Teacher(s)

Collet Jean-François; Lemaigre Frédéric (coordinator);

Language

French

Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

Teaching continues that of the Metabolic Biochemistry course (WMDS1215) for medical students. Students in Biomedical Sciences must have completed the Molecular and Epigenetic Biology (WSBIM1226) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology WFARM1221 course.
The chapters include a description of normal biochemical mechanisms, as well as illustrations of disturbances at the origin of human pathologies. More specifically, the following themes will be addressed:
• Mechanisms controlling the expression of genes, microRNAs, circular RNAs
• Principles of pathologies resulting from dysfunction of gene expression
• Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis
• Molecular mechanisms and pathologies of hemoglobin
• Normal and pathological iron metabolism
• Normal and pathological metabolism of heme
• Biochemical mechanisms of blood coagulation
• Lipoprotein metabolism
• Metabolism of purines and pyrimidines
• Metabolism of amino acids.
• Metabolism of complex lipids and cholesterol

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	• Demonstrate ability to synthesize and integrate multiple biochemistry data into a cohesive whole. • Know and describe the mechanisms controlling gene expression; explain, in molecular terms and by means of examples, how disease can result from an abnormality in gene expression. • Explain, using examples, the molecular and metabolic abnormalities that may contribute to the development of cancer • Describe the pathways and regulation of cholesterol and bile salt synthesis, in relation to the anatomy of the digestive system. • Describe the synthesis, transport, degradation and role of plasma lipoproteins • Know the principles of the organism's nitrogen balance and protein turnover, in normal and pathological conditions; describe the key reactions of urea and amino acid metabolism; describe the normal and pathological metabolism of amino acids • Describe the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides and understand how certain drugs interfere with this metabolism; describe the metabolism and role of folic acid and vitamin B12 • Explain, in molecular terms, the pathologies of oxygen transport by hemoglobin. • Describe the mechanisms of iron absorption, transport and storage in the body, under normal and pathological conditions. • Describe the synthesis and degradation pathways of heme, in normal and pathological conditions, in relation to digestive anatomy. • Know the origin of coagulation factors and describe their role in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, in normal and pathological conditions.

Content

The course complements and is an extension of the Metabolic Biochemistry course WMDS1215 taught to medical students, and of the courses on Biochemistry an Molecular Biology (WFARM1221) and Molecular Biology and Epigenetics (WSBIM1226) taught to biomedical students. The chapters include a description of normal biochemical mechanisms, as well as illustrations of disorders that cause human diseases. More specifically, the following topics will be addressed:

• Mechanisms controlling gene expression; microRNAs; circular RNAs
• Principles of diseases resulting from a dysfunctional gene expression
• Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis
• Molecular mechanisms and diseases of hemoglobin
• Normal and pathological metabolism of iron
• Normal and pathological metabolism of heme
• Biochemical mechanisms of blood coagulation
• Lipoprotein metabolism
• Metabolism of purines and pyrimidines
• Amino acid metabolism.
• Metabolism of complex lipids and cholesterol

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The teaching method consists of lectures given on site by the co-teachers, and includes examples and illustrations.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The written examination will consist of open-ended question . Students will be evaluated on their ability to synthesize and integrate multiple biochemistry data into a coherent entity. They must be able to describe, use and explain in precise biochemical terms the topics addressed and how a disease can result from molecular and biochemical dysfunctions.
When a student has a final mark between 9/20 and 10/20 after correction, the lecturers review together the exam copy to decide whether the mark should be rounded down or up according the overall evaluation of the copy.

Online resources

The slides presented during the course, which cover the subject in a comprehensive way, are available on http://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/

Bibliography

D.R. Ferrier. Biochemistry. Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews, Wolters Kluwer, 2017
Principles of Biochemistry, Horton R.H., Prentice Hall
Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations, 7ème édition, Thomas M. Devlin, Wiley 

Teaching materials

• Diapositives du cours mises à la disposition des étudiant•e•s
• D.R. Ferrier. Biochemistry. Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews, Wolters Kluwer, 2017
• Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations, 7ème édition, Thomas M. Devlin, Wiley
• Principles of Biochemistry, Horton R.H., Prentice Hall

Faculty or entity

MED