Duration
40h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in pharmacy | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
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
The objectives of this course are aligned with the competency framework established for the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences. This course focuses particularly on three areas of expertise: pharmaceutical knowledge, the scientific method, and communication.
Upon completion of this course unit, students should be able to
MODULE 1. Thermodynamics
Understand the thermodynamic principles applied to biochemistry and their implications for the study of metabolism and its regulation.
Understand parallel and series energy couplings and how to apply them to simple enzymatic reactions or metabolic sequences.
MODULE 2. Descriptive biochemistry
Understand the structure, classification, and nomenclature of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. Understand and explain their properties and roles.
Understand the structure and physiology of hemoglobin, muscle proteins, and immunoglobulins.
Know and understand the main methods of quantification, identification of amino acids and proteins, and sequencing of polypeptides.
Understand the structure of membranes, their composition, functions, and functional topographic specializations.
MODULE 3. Enzymology
Understand the principles of enzymatic catalysis.
Know the different classes of enzymes (classification) and understand the concepts of coenzymes, cofactors, prosthetic groups, and allosteric effectors.
Know the different types of enzyme kinetics and their regulation. Know the Michaelis-Menten equation and its conditions of application and be able to apply it in concrete exercises.
MODULE 4. Large energy metabolic pathways
Understand the major catabolic pathways (glycolysis, pyruvate junction, and Krebs cycle) and the sequence of enzymatic reactions involved.
Be able to write the stoichiometric equation and calculate the energy yield for each step.
Understand redox reactions as applied to biochemistry and metabolism, including the respiratory chain, and understand the role of redox coenzymes.
Understand the principles of regulation of major metabolic pathways and the associated thermodynamic aspects.
Understand the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity, the principle of oxidative stress, and the main systems for combating this oxidative stress.
MODULE 5. Catabolism
Understand the major pathways of amino acid, protein, carbohydrate, and lipid catabolism, their regulatory mechanisms, and the elimination of their degradation products.
Understand ethanol metabolism, the mechanisms of its toxicity, and associated drug interactions.
MODULE 6. Anabolism
To know and be able to explain the synthesis pathways of amino acids, the main biological amines, heme, fatty acids, triglycerides, complex lipids, and sterols.
To know and understand gluconeogenesis, gluconeogenic substrates, associated regulations, and the principles of adaptation to fasting.
To know the pentose phosphate shunt, understand its different functional modes and the resulting physiological implications, and be able to integrate it with pathways for combating oxidative stress and with de novo lipogenesis.
To understand the metabolism of purines, pyrimidines, and nucleic acids, and to know the mode of action of the main classes of pharmacological molecules that act at this level.
MODULE 7. Summary, synthesis and regulations
To be able to explain the role of the main cofactors and coenzymes in metabolism, and to know their origins (vitamins or other)
To understand the different levels of metabolic regulation and their synergistic nature
To understand the integration of energy metabolism pathways during adaptation to fasting, during physical exercise, and in the case of insulinopenic diabetes
Cross-cutting objectives
To know the mode of action of the pharmacological molecules covered in the biochemistry course
To know the main inborn errors of metabolism that illustrate the course
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Chemistry, Physics and Biology
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The general biochemistry course includes lectures and practical sessions. The lectures present the material, and students are strongly encouraged to ask questions. For some chapters, an introductory video is posted on eCampus, and students are strongly encouraged to watch it before the lecture. Exercises are regularly posted on eCampus at the end of each module. These exercises allow students to familiarize themselves with the expected level of mastery of the material. An optional quiz is scheduled in October and covers the material from the first three modules (chapters 1-6). A passing grade on this quiz (>10/20) adds a bonus point to the final exam grade. The quiz is reviewed in detail 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.
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
Association of one or more MOOCs
Items online
CYCLE DE KREBS
CYCLE DE KREBS