Biochemistry

• To understand basic processes of life at the molecular level
• Ability to critically judge the impact of recent biotechnology on the environment
• Knowledge for understanding the processes in nature, related to toxicology, ecotoxicology, bioremediation, and other related fields in environmental science

To understand the content of the Biochemistry course, high school knowledge of biology and chemistry upgraded with knowledge that the student gains in the first year of study in Biology and Chemistry courses is required.

h1 1. Structure and function of macromolecules:
• Proteins: amino acids, peptide bond, protein structure, mechanisms of action of enzymes, overview of the basic methods for isolation and characterization of proteins;
• Lipids: structure, structure of biological membranes and their function
• Carbohydrates: structure and biological function.

h1 2. Metabolism and Energy:
• Basic principles of bioenergetic processes, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, glycogen metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, degradation of amino acids and urea cycle;
• The biosynthesis of lipids, amino acids and nucleotides;
• The general mechanisms of regulation of cellular processes;
• Integration of metabolism.

h1 3. Storage and Transfer of Biological Information:
• Building and structure of nucleic acids;
• Transfer of genetic information (replication, transcription and translation);
• Recombinant DNA technology and molecular diagnostics;
• cell signaling.

By the end of this course student will be able to:
• explain the basic functions of biological macromolecules in organisms,
• know basic methods for detection and isolation of biological macromolecules,
• know the basic techniques of recombinant DNA,
• critically assess the impact of biotechnology on the environment.

Basic:

Biochemistry: Free For All / Kevin Ahern, Indira Rajagopal, Taralyn Tan. Oregon State University, 2018 Catalogue E-version

Additional:

• Rodney F. Boyer: Temelji biokemije, 2005, Študentska založba. Catalogue
• John L. Tymoczko, Jeremy M. Berg, Lubert Stryer: Biochemistry: A Short Course, 2nd Edition, 2011, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. E-version
• Slides, UNG MiTeam and Moodle classroms

Selected chapters:

• Pascal Ribéreau-Gayon, Denis Dubourdieu, Bernard Donèche, Aline Lonvaud: Handbook of Enology: The Microbiology of Wine and Vinifications, Volume 1, 2nd Edition, 2006, Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, Anglija. Catalogue
• Chapter: Biochemistry of Alcoholic Fermentation and Metabolic Pathways of Wine Yeasts. E-version

Written exam (70 %), colloquium from practicals (20 %), seminar (10 %)

Dr. Ario de Marco is a Full professor in the field of Biotechnology at the University of Nova Gorica.

• de Marco A (2018) Nanomaterial bio-activation and macromolecules functionalization: the search for reliable protocols. Prot Expr Purif, 147:49-54

• Popovic M, Mazzega E, Toffoletto B, de Marco A (2018) Isolation of anti-extra-cellular vesicle single-domain antibodies by direct panning on vesicle-enriched fractions. Microbial Cell Fact, 17:6

• de Marco A (2017) Acting on folding effectors to improve recombinant protein yields and functional quality. Meth Mol Biol (Heterologous Gene Expression in E. coli), 1586:197-210

• Crépin R, Gentien D, Duché A, Rapinat A, Reyes C, Némati F, Massonnet G, Decaudin D, Djender S, Moutel S, Desrumeaux K, Cassoux N, Piperno-Neumann S, Amigorena S, Perez F, Roman Roman S, de Marco A (2017) Nanobodies against surface biomarkers enable the analysis of tumor genetic heterogeneity in uveal melanoma Patient Derived Xenografts. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 30:317-327

• Ambrosetti E, Paoletti P, Bosco A, Parisse P, Scaini D, Tagliabue E, de Marco A, Casalis L (2017) Quantification of circulating cancer biomarkers via sensitive topographic measurements on single binder nanoarrays. ACS Omega, 2:2618-2629