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2025-2026 / BIOC1006-1

Biochemistry applied to pharmacy

Duration

40h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in pharmacy5 crédits 

Lecturer

François Boemer, François-Guillaume Debray

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

The main goal of this biochemistry course is to provide a broad and comprehensive view of the main biochemical processes occuring in living organisms. These fundamental knowledges should represent solid bases for understanding cell biology, physiology and pathophysiology.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

To understand the thermodynamic principles applied to biochemistry and understand their implications in the study of metabolism and its regulations

To know the structure of amino acids and their physicochemical properties

To know the structure of polypeptides and proteins, their structural and functional classifications and their main roles in cell

To understand the structure and physiology of hemoglobin, muscle proteins and immunoglobulins

To know and understand the main methods of quantification, identification of amino acids and proteins, and sequencing of polypeptides

To understand the principles of enzymatic catalysisKnow the different classes of enzyme (classification) and understand the concepts of coenzyme, cofactors, prosthetic group, and allosteric effectors

To know the different types of enzyme kinetics, the Michaelis-Menten equation, its application conditions, its mathematical transformations ematics to determine Vmax and Km, and the different inhibitor types.

To understand the principles of allosteric regulation and those of two-substrate kinetics

To know the structure of oses, their cyclization and their derivatives

To understand the mechanism of osidic bonding and know the structure of disaccharides and polysaccharides (homoglycans, heteroglycans and heterosides)

To know the structure of nucleic bases, nucleosides and nucleotides

To know the different classes of lipids, their structure and their role in biochemistry

To understand the structure of membranes, their composition, their functions and their functional topographic specializations

To know and understand the circulation of lipids and the metabolism of lipoproteins

To know and understand the major catabolic pathways (glycolysis, pyruvate crossroads and Krebs cycle), the sequences of the enzymatic reactions that compose them, their regulations and the thermodynamic aspects

Being able to write the stochoimetric equation and calculate the energy yield of the complete oxidation of simple organic compounds via the major catabolic pathways

To understanding the e transport of electrons in the respiratory chain, the transfer of energy in the oxidation-reduction reactions that compose it, and the mechanism of oxidative phosphorylations.

To know the catabolism of amino acids, the transport and detoxification pathways of ammonia (urea cycle)

To know the pathways of glycogen degradation and synthesis, their regulations, and the catabolism of monosaccharides other than glucose

Knowing the pathway of fatty acid catabolism and its energy yield

Understanding the pathways of synthesis of amino acids, hemes and lipids

Knowing and understanding gluconeogenesis, its regulation and the principles of adaptation to fasting

Understanding the pentose shunt and its physiological implication Understanding metabolism

To understand the metabolism of purines, pyrimidines and nucleic acids, and know the mode of action of the main classes of pharmacological molecules that act at this level
 
To know the mode of action of pharmacological molecules seen in the course of biochemistry
 
To know the main inborn errors metabolism that illustrate the course
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Chemistry, Physics and Biology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The general biochemistry course includes the theoretical lecture and the exercise sessions. The theoretical lectures present the material and students are strongly encouraged to ask questions. For some chapters, an introductory video capsule is posted on ecampus and students are strongly encouraged to watch it before the course. Exercises are regularly posted on ecampus at the end of each module. These exercises allow the student to familiarize themselves with the expected requirements in terms of mastery of the material. A non-certification (optional) test is planned at the end of the descriptive biochemistry part (subject of the first three modules; chapters 1-6). It is subject to detailed correction in the lecture hall.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Further information:

The course slides form the basis of the course material. They are available in the course area on eCampus. Lectures delivered in auditoriums are also podcasted (whenever possible). A detailed two-volume syllabus completes the course material. 

Reading several biochemistry textbooks may be recommended but is not required.

 


 

- Biochimie 1er cycle, G. Hennen ; Dunod

- Biochemistry, par A.L. Lehninger ; Worth Publischers, Inc. ; New York

-Biochemistry for medical sciences (Newsholme); Willey

- 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.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )

Other : Non certifying test in october (optional)


Additional information:



An exam scheduled for the session (January - August) includes generalized true/false multiple choice questions as well as open-ended questions. For true/false, the score will be +1 for a correct answer, 0 for no answer and -0.5 for an incorrect answer. The weighting is 10% for each open-ended question (there will be 3 or 4) and the rest of the points for the multiple choice questions.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

F-G. Debray
Service de génétique médicale
CHU Liège Domaine Sart-Tilman Bât B35, B4000 Liège
fg.debray@uliege.be


F. Boemer
Service de génétique médicale
CHU Liège Domaine Sart-Tilman Bât B35, B4000 Liège
f.boemer@uliege.be


Michelle Carlino
Secrétariat de génétique
04/3668145
mcarlino@chuliege.be

 

Christel Péqueux (TP)
04/3662217
c.pequeux@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

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