BMB536: Metabolic Regulation (7.5 ECTS)

STADS: 01013501

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: nils.f@bmb.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
ravnskjaer@bmb.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of fundamental biochemistry and basic organic chemistry.
• Be able to apply basic biochemistry and organic chemistry to discuss how biochemical processes are integrated and regulated.

Course introduction
The aim of the course is to enable the student to understand metabolic pathways in mammalian cells and their regulation at a molecular level. Participants will gain insights into signal transduction pathways incl. hormones, growth factors, receptors, kinases, calcium and transcription factors. This is important in regard to the understanding of biochemical processes, which are key elements in understanding human physiology under normal and pathological conditions.

The course builds on knowledge acquired in courses in Fundamental Biochemistry like BMB530 or BMB532 which is assumed known, and provide a scientific basis to further study topics in physiology, pathophysiology and experimental work under the BSC and thesis projects that are part of the degree.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give competences in discussing and analyzing regulation of metabolism and biochemical processes at the molecular level.
• Give skills to discuss regulation of metabolism in mammals and physiological mechanisms.
• Give knowledge and understanding of how 1) biochemical processes are regulated at the molecular level, 2) how these are interconnected, 3) how metabolic processes are integrated with each other between the various bodies.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• describe metabolites, enzymes, co-enzymes in glycogen and fatty acid metabolism and its regulation.
• explain the formation and function of lipoproteins like chylomicrons, VLDL, HDL and LDL, and describe their respective roles in triglyceride / cholesterol homeostasis.
• explain how the vesicular transport takes place in eukaryotic cells.
• describe how high levels of cholesterol can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
• explain the synthesis of phospholipids and triglycerides and how the synthesis of phospholipids is closely associated with amino acid metabolism.
• explain how glucogenic and ketogenic amino acids are converted and how the amino groups may be disposed in the urea cycle.
• explain how amino acids are synthesized from intermediates in glycolysis and TCA cycle.
• describe how synthesis of branched chain amino acids and glutamine synthesis is regulated.
• on the basis of own experiments explain the glucose-fatty acid cycle.
• explain the effect of the hormones insulin, glucagon, norepinephrine and epinephrine on the metabolic pathways in the brain, muscles, liver and adipose tissue.
• describe the mechanisms underlying the hormonal effect on blood levels of glucose, fatty acids and ketone bodies.
• explain the metabolic adaptations that occur as a result of food intake, fasting and diabetes (type 1 and 2) as well as muscle work.
• describe the structure and function of 7TM receptors, G proteins and signaling pathways that lead to the formation of secondary "messengers" such as Ca2+, IP3 and cAMP, and explain how the activity of these signaling pathways and the level of these messengers can be regulated.
• describe the structure and function of tyrosine kinase receptors, including insulin receptor, and explain how the PI3 kinase signaling and MAPK signaling can be activated by insulin.

Subject overview


Literature

• David L. Nelson and Michael M. Cox: Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 6. Udgave.
• K. Frayn: Metabolic Regulation, a human perspective, 3. Udgave.
• Øvelsesvejledning. .

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
a) The course is evaluated by a portfolio examination, which consists of two different activities (7,5 ECTS):

1. An individual exercise report, which accounts for 25 % of the final grade. Internal censorship.
2. 4-hours electronic exam without any books/notes etc. This activity accounts for 75 % of the final grade. Internal evaluation by teachers.

The final grade will be announced when all activities have been completed. Grade after the Danish 7-mark scale.

The mode of exam at the reexamination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 36 hours
Skills training phase: 36 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 26 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 10 hours

Educational activities

• Preparation for lectures- and tutorials.
• preparation of exercise report.
• Studying for written exam.

Educational form

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.