Bioquímica

- To know the behaviour of acid-base equilibrium and buffering systems of the human organism.
- To know the properties and functions of the main biomolecules which compose the human body.
- To know the general metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides and nucleic acids.
- To know the metabolism of phosphate and calcium, as well as the processes of hard tissue calcification.
- To know the basic biochemical processes involved in dental health.

INTRODUCTION. Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dental Biochemistry. Biomolecules: chemical and structural characteristics.

WATER. Structure and properties of water. Water in living organisms. Ionic activity of water. Acids and bases. Buffer solutions or buffers.

CARBOHYDRATES. Carbohydrates: concept and classification. Monosaccharides and derivatives of monosaccharides. Disaccharides. Polysaccharides. Proteoglycans and glycoproteins.

LIPIDS. Lipids: structural features and classification. Fatty acids. Complex lipids. Simple lipids. Lipoproteins.

PROTEIN. Amino acids: properties. Protein structure. Protein folding. Proteins of biological interest.

ENZYMES. Enzymes: characteristics and classification. Catalysis and enzyme kinetics. Regulation and inhibition of enzyme activity.

VITAMINS, MINERALS AND TRACE ELEMENTS. Vitamins: Classification and functions. Fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins. Effects of vitamin deficiencies in oral tissues. Minerals and trace elements.

BIOENERGETICS AND INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM. Thermodynamic relations and high-energy compounds. Tricarboxylic acid cycle. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Electron transport inhibitors and uncoupling agents.

CARBOHYDRATES METABOLISM. Glycolysis and its regulation. Metabolic fates of pyruvate and lactic acid fermentation. Inclusion of other monosaccharides to the glycolytic pathway. Pentose phosphate pathway. Gluconeogenesis and its regulation. Glycogenolysis and glycogenesis. Control of glycogen metabolism.

METABOLISM OF LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS. Fatty acid metabolism and regulation. Complex lipid metabolism and its regulation. Simple lipid metabolism: prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Cholesterol metabolism and its regulation. Lipoprotein metabolism.

AMINO ACID METABOLISM. Protein degradation and protein turnover. Common reactions to the metabolism of amino acids: transamination and oxidative deamination. Ureogenesis and formation of glutamine. Glucogenic and ketogenic amino acids. Metabolism of specific amino acids.

NUCLEOTIDE METABOLISM. Structural features and functions of nucleotides. Nucleotide metabolism: purine and pyrimidine.

DNA REPLICATION. Structure and characteristics of DNA. Replication: DNA synthesis. Mutations and DNA repair mechanisms.

RNA SYNTHESIS: TRANSCRIPTION. Structure and characteristics of RNAs. RNA Synthesis. Post-Transcriptional RNA Processing. Regulation of transcription.

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: TRANSLATION. The genetic code. Protein synthesis. Post-translational modifications of proteins.

RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY. PCR, cloning, sequencing and other techniques.

BASIC ORAL BIOCHEMISTRY . Metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Structure and chemical composition of the tooth. Biochemistry of saliva. Acquired pellicle and plaque Biochemistry of caries. Biochemistry of fluoride. Minimum requirements of toothpaste.

Basic bibliography:
-MEISENBERG G, SIMMONS WH. "Principios de Bioquímica Médica". Cuarta ed. Barcelona: Elsevier; 2018.
-FEDUCHI E., ROMERO C., YÁÑEZ E., GARCÍA-HOZ C. "Bioquímica. Conceptos Esenciales". 3º edición. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana; 2021.
-MCKEE T., MCKEE J.R.. “Bioquímica. Las bases moleculares de la vida”, 7e. México, D. F. McGRAW-HILL INTERAMERICANA EDITORES, S.A. de C. V. 2020.
-RODWELL VW, BENDER DA, BOTHAM KM, KENNELLY PJ, WEIL P. “Harper. Bioquímica ilustrada” 32 edición. 2022 McGraw Hill Education Inc.
-VOET D., VOET J.Q., PRATT C.W. “Fundamentos de Bioquímica. La vida a nivel molecular”. 4º edición. Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2016.
- Tymoczko JL, Berg JM, Stryer LL, "Bioquímica: Curso básico". Editorial Reverté, Barcelona, 2014.
-LOZANO J.A., GALINDO J.D., GARCÍA-BORRON J.C., MARTÍNEZ-LIARTE J.H., PEÑAFIEL R., SOLANO F. "Bioquímica y Biología Molecular para Ciencias de la Salud". 3º edición. McGraw-Hill Interamericana, Madrid, 2005.

Complementary bibliography:
-RONNER P. “Netter. Bioquímica esencial”. Primera ed. Barcelona: Elsevier; 2019.
-BAYNES J.W., DOMINICZAK M.H. "Bioquímica Médica". Sexta ed. Barcelona: Elsevier España; 2024.
-LIEBERMAN M., MARKS A.D., PEET A. “Marks Bioquímica médica básica : un enfoque clínico”. 5º edición. Barcelona. Wolters Kluwer , 2018
-Adriana María Salazar Montes, Ana Soledad Sandoval Rodríguez, Juan Socorro Armendáriz Borunda. “Biología Molecular. Fundamentos y aplicaciones en las ciencias de la salud”, 2e. México, D. F. McGRAW-HILL/INTERAMERICANA EDITORES, S.A. DE C.V. 2016.
-HERRERA E., RAMOS M.P., ROCA P., VIANA, M. “Bioquímica básica”. Elsevier España, S.L. 2014.
- JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) https://www-jove-com.ezbusc.usc.gal/es/

Knowledge
Con01. Know the biomedical sciences on which Dentistry is based to ensure proper oral-dental care. These sciences must include appropriate content on:
• Embryology, anatomy, histology and physiology of the human body.
• Genetics, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology.
• Microbiology and Immunology
Con02. Know the morphology and function of the stomatognathic system, including appropriate content on embryology, anatomy, histology and physiology.

Competencies
Comp01. Ability to analyse and synthesize.
Comp02. Ability to organise and plan.
Comp03. Oral and written communication in one's own language.
Comp05. Basic computer skills.
Comp06. Information management skills (ability to search for and analyse information from various sources).
Comp07. Problem solving.
Comp08. Decision making.
Comp09. Critical and self-critical ability.
Comp10. Teamwork.
Comp11. Interpersonal skills.
Comp16. Ethical commitment.
Comp17. Ability to apply knowledge in practice.
Comp18. Research skills.
Comp19. Ability to learn independently.
Comp20. Ability to adapt to new situations.
Comp21. Ability to generate new ideas (creativity).
Comp24. Ability to work independently.
Comp26. Initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.
Comp27. Concern for quality.

Skills or abilities
H/D07. Promote autonomous learning of new knowledge and techniques, as well as motivation for quality.
H/D08. Know how to share information with other health professionals and work in a team.
H/D11. Understand the basic biomedical sciences on which Dentistry is based to ensure proper oral-dental care.
H/D18. Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use clinical and biomedical information sources to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health information.
H/D19. Know the scientific method and have critical capacity to assess established knowledge and new information. Be able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving using the scientific method.

Large group lectures.
Large group lectures are designed to enhance independent learning of students. In the lectures (classroom teaching) the teacher will present and explain the most important aspects of each topic, helping students to achieve the objectives of the subject. In this teaching we will use the blackboard, audiovisual and virtual space of matter (USC virtual), and other means that the teacher considers appropriate to facilitate teaching.

Small group interactive classes
Small group interactive classes focus on topics related to the theoretical contents of large group lectures. Seminars will be face-to-face. The teacher will lead and guide the student in the learning process. In this teaching we will use the blackboard, audiovisual and virtual space of matter (USC virtual), and other means that the teacher considers appropriate to facilitate teaching.

Very small group tutorials
This activity will mainly be used for clarification of doubts about the theory and practice related to the contents of the subject. This activity will make use of media, computers, virtual space (USC virtual) and other matter that the teacher deems appropriate.

A final face-to-face exam representing an 80% of the final grade will be done. The final exam may include multiple choice questions and/or short questions, covering all aspects related to the contents of the subject. The student must demonstrate in the exam an adequate knowledge of each part of the subject. A continuous assessment representing a 20% of the final grade will be also done. This continuous assessment could be done through regular checks of student learning and student participation in scheduled activities.
In addition, students will be able to take, as part of the continuous assessment, a midterm assessment that represents 40% of the final grade (if they pass it, the final exam would count 40% of the final grade and would cover the part not included in the midterm assessment). Therefore for these students the continuous assessment would reach 60% of the final grade.

Students who do not take the midterm assessment. To pass the evaluation the student must obtain:
- a minimum of 3.6 points (out of a maximum of 8.0) in the final exam
- a minimum of 5.0 points (out of a maximum of 10) in the sum of the final exam + the continuous assessment (out of a maximum of 2.0).
The grade corresponding to the continuous assessment will only be valid during the academic year in which it was obtained.

Students who take the midterm assessment. To pass the evaluation the student must obtain:
- a minimum of 1.8 points (out of a maximum of 4.0) in the final exam
- a minimum of 5.0 points (out of a maximum of 10) in the sum of the final exam + the continuous assessment (out of a maximum of 6.0).
The grade corresponding to the continuous assessment will only be valid during the academic year in which it was obtained.

In cases in which the fraudulent performance of exercises and assessment tests is detected, the provisions of the “Regulations for the evaluation of student academic performance and review of grades” will be applied.

Student class work: 60 hours
Student personal work: 90 hours

Attendance at all classroom activities relating to the teaching of the subject.
Monitoring and periodic reading of texts and other materials recommended by the teacher.
Use of tutorials to solve any doubts the student may have in relation to the covered contents.
Finally, students will focus their study on the understanding of the concepts given and their possible application in the medical field, not limiting its attention to simply assimilate information.