General biochemistry

Duration

25h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Bernard Rogister

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Teacher : B. ROGISTER, Professor
The aim of biochemistry is the complete understanding at the molecular level of all the chemical processes associated with living cells. This is mainly achieved by isolating molecules and understanding their structure and their function. The field of biochemistry is as vast as life itself, as chemical reactions take place wherever life exists. Biochemists study the chemical reactions and changes which take place in micro-organisms, plants, fish, insects, lesser and superior mammals like human beings. Biochemical knowledge of other forms of life is directly relevant to a global understanding of the biochemistry of human beings. For example, current theories on the regulation of gene and enzyme activity come from earlier studies of bread yeast and bacteria. Like general physiology, general biochemistry demonstrates the integrated unity of living beings. This course is devoted to the understanding of the organism's molecular structure, of the notion of metabolic sequences, of the rules governing the integration of these sequences, of the general basics of cell energy, of the source of inter-cellular free energy, and finally, of the biochemical tissue specialization. Examples illustrating taught concepts will be specifically chosen to introduce the student to human biochemistry.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

General objectives :
To describe the general properties of molecules composing the living species.
To give a clear and structured information about the chemical reactions within the cell.
To analyse the relationships between these different molecules.
To explain how the cell structure is maintained and expanded or how the cell can achieve a particular function.
To allow the students to understand the biochemical basis of general physiology and human physiology and biochemistry.
To exert the critical thinking of students by pro or contra demonstrations on different subjects or debate some not yet verified hypothesis. Specific objectives :
1. To describe the general properties of the molecules of living beings : carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, heterocycles (co-enzymes, vitamins, nucleosides, ...)
2. To understand the basics of classical enzymology (kinetics, enzyme classification, reaction mechanisms, ...).
3. To remember the basics of thermodynamic laws and to apply them to specificities encountered in the living world: high energy molecules, the coupling reactions, ... .
4. To explain the general organization of the main metabolic pathways in cells by integrating them each others and to outline the basics of the controls of metabolic pathways.
5. To describe in details the cellular catabolic reactions leading to the synthesis of high-energy molecules.
6. To describe in details anabolic pathways leading to the synthesis of nucleotides, nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates.
7. To apply and to integrate those concepts in the mechanisms of muscle contraction

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

First year courses in physics, chemistry (more precisely, organic chemistry) and biology. To prepare students to the study of human biochemistry, human physiology and to the pathology.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures will be ex cathedra. Laboratory work sessions will be organized and three students will work together in a one single day session. This session will be preceded by a specific two-hours lecture. This laboratory work is devoted to manipulation of proteins : chromatography, protein assay, enzyme activity assays and gel electrophoresis. Supervision of sessions will performed by one or two supervisors (assistants), two to three older students and one technician. Each group of students will give back a report for the group within eighth days following the session. At the end of the semester, a global correction of the report will be organized aas a special lecture and will be focused on the observed errors repeatedly present in submitted reports. There will be no exam of practical work but part of the final exam (January or September) will focus on the topic of practical works for all students (see hereunder). The note of the evaluation will not distinguish the theoretical part of the practical part. Attendance at tutorials of practical work is compulsory for students enrolled for the first time in General Biochemistry. In case of unauthorized absence, the penalty will be 1 point on the final outcome of the exam.  The document justifying the absence of the student must be sent to the educational office within 5 working days after the date of the session.
For the students to represent the exam of General Biochemistry, they can again follow the session of practical work, this on a voluntary basis and after registration at the beginning of the academic year. Once enrolled, they then commit to be present at the practical work session and will be subject to the same organizational rules as the students following for the first time the course of General Biochemistry.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

1: Introduction to chemical reactions in a living cell.
1. Chemistry, Energy and Metabolism
2. Enzymes
2: Structure of proteins and cell membranes.
3. Protein structure
4. Cell Membranes
3: Metabolism
5. Biochemical mechanisms of nutrient transport and storage
6. Energy release from nutrient oxidation
7. Glycolysis, Krebs'cycle, electron transport in mitochondria.
8. Energy release from lipids
9. Fatty acids and lipids synthesis
10. Neoglucogenesis
11. Pentoses cycle
12. Amino acids metabolism
4. Information storage and use.
13. Nucleotides metabolism and genomes organization
5. Cellular mechanical work.
14. Muscular contraction
15. Cytoskeletton, molecular motors and intracellular transport.
 

Recommended or required readings

Actualized Syllabus (2019) is available at Presses Universitaires at a low price. Students will be able to get a written or an electronic syllabus (available on intranet) on September, the 15th. They will have also the possibility to download illustrations given during lectures after each lectures. If it is necessary and asked, the lectures themselves will be recorded and easy available in Intranet (pod-cast). Students can send by e-mail questions to the e-campus platform.  Students are stimulated to respond to these questions and if required, an assistant or an assitant professor will give the rigth answer.

Text-books of recent edition can also be useful but they are not necessary. A non exhaustive list (editing years are not mentioned in order to emphasize that it is imperative to choose the most recent edition of investing in one of these books):

- Harper's Review of Biochemistry, par D.W. Martin, P.A. Mayer et V.W. Rodwell ; Lange medical Publications, Los Altos.
- Biochemistry, par A.L. Lehninger ; Worth Publischers, Inc. ; New York (il existe une traduction française).
- Biochemistry, par L. Stryer ; W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco.
- Biochemistry. A functional Approach, par R.W. Mc Giltery et G. Goldstein, Saunders Compagny, Londres.
- Biochimie. D. Voet et J. G. Voet. De Boeck Université.
- Fundamentals at Biochemistry, life at the molecular level, D. Voet, J.G. Voet, C.W. Pratt, Wiley. 
- Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical correlations, Thomas M. Devlin, Wiley Liss.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ; W.H. Elliott and D.C. Elliott, Oxford University Press.
- Mark's basic medical biochemistry, C. Smith, A.D. Marks, M. Lieberman, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Cell Biology, T.D Pollard and W.C. Earnshaw, Saunders
- Atlas de Poche de Biochimie, J. Koolman et K.H. Röhm, Médecine-Sciences-Flammarion.
- Biochimie et Biologie moléculaire, P. Kamoun, A. Lavoine et H. de Verneuil, Médecine-Sciences, Flammarion
- Biochimie Illustrée, P.N. Campbell, A.D. Smith, Maloine.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written exam (multiple choice questions) will cover the theoretical aspects as well some aspects developed during laboratory work sessions. The correction is +1 for each correct reponse, 0 for the absence of response et -1 for an uncorrected response. Part of the exam will be directly related to the practical work session. Written exams in January and September.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Adress : Bernard Rogister, Full Professor
GIGA-Neurosciences Department of biomedical sciences and preclinics  C.H.U. Bât. B36 avenue Hippocrate, 15 4000 Liège 1 Belgique
Phone : 32 4 3665950 E-mail : Bernard.Rogister@uliege.be
Sabine Wislet Assistant Professor Tel ULg 32 4 366 59 56 E-mail : S.Wislet@uliege.be

Laurence Delacroix Première assistante Tél. Ulg 32 4 366 25 02 Couriel : ldelacroix@uliege.be
Christelle Péqueux Première assistante Tél. Ulg 32 4 366 22 17 Couriel : C.Pequeux@uliege.be
Larisia Bourdoux Secretary Tel ULg : 324 366 59 50 E-mail : Larisia.Bourdoux@uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Assessment subjects

Assessment methods

Contacts

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

The subject matter of the first 14 chapters of the syllabus will be examined.

Assessment methods

The written exam covers the theoretical course. This exam consists of a multiple choice question put online on e-campus at the time of the exam. The rating will be +1 if the answer is correct, 0 if there is no answer and -1 if the answer is incorrect. The exam will last two hours.
In the event of a technical problem encountered by the student at the time of the exam (connection or network break, etc.), the student must report his or her technical problem at the time of the exam to Madame Bourdoux (larisia.Bourdoux @ uliege.be) or 04 366 59 50. He or she will then be invited to appear at a time and at a place indicated to him or her by Madame Bourdoux to do his face-to-face examination under conditions identical to those of the examination which takes place. takes place on e-campus. Precautionary measures will be taken for this face-to-face examination. The questions in this remedial exam for students who have encountered a technical problem will be different from the online exam, but the exam conditions will be identical.

Contacts

Same as above.