CHEMICAL BIOLOGY

This teaching is one of the basic training activities of the degree course in Science and Technology of Bio and Nanomaterials. The major goal of this teaching, which includes both theoretical lessons and laboratory sessions, is to provide students with the skills necessary to produce and critically analyse the main biological macromolecules.
The educational objectives of the teaching are: i) to encourage and stimulate the use of a logical and deductive thinking necessary to understand and critically analyse the structure and function of complex macromolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins; ii) to be able to apply advanced methodologies and technologies for the synthesis and characterization of the major biological macromolecules; iii) to develop skills, expertise and independence in the production, purification and characterization of some biological macromolecules, either alone or as part of small work units; iv) to develop the ability to expose scientific concepts in a formal manner and using a proper scientific language.

1. Knowledge and understanding
i) Knowledge of the chemical-physical properties of the biological macromolecules and understand the key relationships between structure and reactivity;
ii) Being able to apply the methods and the technologies learned in classroom to the laboratory and understand the process of acquisition and processing of experimental data.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
i) Being able to use the acquired knowledge to comprehend and logically interpret the chemical-physical properties of the biological macromolecules;
ii) Being able to propose coherent and complementary methodologies for the characterization of biological macromolecules.

3. Ability to judge
i) Use the acquired knowledge to characterize the main biological macromolecules;
ii) Being able to recognize errors through a critical analysis of the applied method and to formulate alternative hypothesis.

4. Communication skills
i) Being able to convey the acquired knowledge using an appropriate terminology;
ii) Being able to interact with the teacher and the classmates in a respectful and constructive manner, especially during the execution of the experiments in the laboratory.

5. Learning skills
i) Being able to take notes, selecting and collecting information according to their importance;
ii) Being able to make logical connections between different topics of the course and apply to the laboratory the concepts learned in classroom.

To have reached the educational objectives of physic, general and organic chemistry, molecular and chemical biology, possibly (but not necessarily) having passed the final exams of these courses.

In relation to the educational objectives and expected learning outcomes, the course contents can be divided into two parts.

FIRST PART

i) Fundamentals of biochemistry
Properties of the main elements and functional groups present in the biomolecules. Prebiotic chemistry. Non covalent bonds in the aqueous systems. Properties and mechanisms of the major biochemical reactions.

ii) Nucleic acids: DNA and RNA
Chemical and physical properties of nucleotides and nucleic acids. Structure and function of different forms of DNA and RNA present in the biological systems. Synthesis, organization, modulation and degradation of DNA and RNA.

iii) Amino acids and proteins
Chemical and physical properties of amino acids. Properties and structure of peptide bond. Synthesis of peptides. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. Properties and function of some protein domains. Properties of receptor–ligand interaction. Function and mechanism of action and inhibition of some enzymes: kinases and proteases.

SECOND PART

i) Techniques for the production, purification and modification of nucleic acids and proteins
Isolation and purification of DNA and RNA. Cloning of DNA molecules: amplification, digestion and ligation. Mutagenesis methods. Bioconjugation of DNA and RNA. Methods for the determination of protein concentration. Methods for the production and extraction of recombinant proteins. Liquid chromatography techniques for protein purification. Bioconjugation of proteins.

ii) Techniques for the characterization of nucleic acids and proteins
Electrophoretic techniques. Spectroscopic techniques (UV/Vis and fluorescence). Centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. Optical diffusion techniques. Immunobiochemical techniques. Mass spectrometry. Flow cytometry. Isothermal titration calorimetry. Nuclear magnetic resonance. X-ray crystallography and diffraction. Optical, fluorescence and electronic microscopy.

iii) Biochemistry laboratory
The experiences carried out in the laboratory are:
- cloning, production, purification and concentration of a recombinant protein;
- bioconjugation of a fluorophore to a protein and its characterization by spectroscopic (UV / Vis, fluorescence) and immunobiochemical techniques.

As a support to the study, every university textbook containing the basics of biochemistry is acceptable.
Regarding the first part of the course, the following textbooks are suggested:
- D. Van Vranken, G. Weiss: Introduction to Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Garland Science – Taylor & Francis Group;
- D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox: Lehninger Principle of Biochemistry, VII ed., W.H. Freeman and Sapling Learning.
For the second part of the course the following textbook is recommended instead:
- A. Hofman, S. Clokie: Wilson and Walker's Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VIII ed., Cambridge University Press.

The assessment of learning takes place by means of an oral exam lasting about one hour. The objective of the exam consists in verifying and evaluating: i) the level of knowledge of the topics dealt with in class, ii) the ability of critical thinking and iii) the ability to make connections between the different contents of the course. The degree of accuracy of the answers and the ownership of the scientific language used will be evaluated. The constant and active participation to the lessons will be taken into account in the final evaluation. For the practical laboratory experiences there is a compulsory attendance, under penalty of failure to perform and pass the exam.

Specifically, the oral exam consists of a series of questions concerning both parts of the program reported in the "Contents" section: the students have to demonstrate both the critical learning of the topics of the entire program and the ability to expose them in a formal and concise manner using an appropriate scientific language. Some questions will cover the two practical laboratory experiences.

The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths. Finals will take place within the dates established by the academic calendar.

Teaching is organized in:
i) frontal theoretical lectures, including problem-solving exercises in the classroom. Both traditional whiteboard and PowerPoint slides will be used during the lessons.
ii) two practical laboratory experiences in which the students, working in groups of three, will perform experiments, collect data and elaborate them. The students will be guided by the teacher in all the practical activities proposed, and will be accompanied to the understanding and the correct interpretation of the results obtained during the laboratory experience. For the practical laboratory experiences there is a compulsory attendance, under penalty of failure to perform and pass the exam. Verification of the understanding of the practical laboratory experiences will be carried out in the final oral exam.

The teaching material is present and downloadable from the University's Moodle e-learning platform.

English

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion

Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments: Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development