There are no formal requirements to take this subject, although it is advisable to have acquired the basic knowledge and skills of the subjects: "Enlace y Estructura", "Fundamentos de Bioquímica", and "Química Orgánica"

The Structure and Function of Macromolecules subject is the first subject in the Macromolecules subject, made up of two other subjects: Bioinorganics and Structural Determination, from the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology module.

The objectives of the course are for the student to acquire basic skills and knowledge about the structure of biological macromolecules and macromolecular complexes, together with the structural bases of the interactions between macromolecules. This knowledge will allow you to understand the relationship between the structure and the function of these macromolecules, providing you with basic elements that you will need to study other subjects that will be taught in the Degree, such as: Enzymology (2nd year), Signaling, Control and Cellular Homeostasis. (2nd year), Gene Expression and its Regulation (2nd year), Metabolism and its Regulation (3rd year), Human Physiology (3rd year), Molecular Pathology (3rd year) and Clinical Biochemistry (3rd year).

Likewise, the contents of this subject represent the knowledge base on which the 3rd year subject "Structural Determination" will be developed.

The theoretical and practical skills (laboratory) that the subject will provide are essential for the professional development of a Biochemistry graduate.

Course competences
Code	Description
E01	Express themselves correctly in basic biological, physical, chemical, mathematical and computer terms.
E19	Understand the principles that determine the three-dimensional structure of biological molecules, macromolecules and supramolecular complexes and be able to explain the relationships between structure and function.
G01	To possess and understand the knowledge in the area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at a level that, based on advanced textbooks, also includes cutting-edge aspects of relevance in the discipline
G03	Be able to collect and interpret relevant data, information and results, draw conclusions and issue reasoned reports on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues in connection with advances in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
T10	Ability to self-learn and to obtain and manage bibliographic information, including Internet resources

Course learning outcomes
Description
Know the basics of the chemical thermodynamics of equilibrium.
To know the basic mechanisms by which biological macromolecules acquire their native three-dimensional structure.
Understand and explain the interrelationship between the structure and function of biological macromolecules
Understand the mechanisms of electron transfer reactions, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen activation, the chemistry of coordination in biological systems and those enzymatic processes in which transition metals play a fundamental role.
Additional outcomes
Description

• Unit 1: Structure and function of the building blocks of biological macromolecules
  • Unit 1.1: Mono and oligosaccharides. Monosaccharides: Structure and stereochemistry. Physical properties. Optical properties. Cyclic structures, anomery and mutarotation. Conformers. Steric, electronic and solvation effects. Oligosaccharides: Glycosylic bond. Disaccharides and higher oligosaccharides: main classes and definitions. Structure determination of saccharides. Supramolecular conformation of saccharides.
  • Unit 1.2: Amino acids and peptides. Structure and classification. Properties. Stereochemistry. Acid-Base behavior. Purification of amino acids. Reactivity of the carboxylic and amino group. Biological reactivity. Synthesis and enantiomerically pure synthesis of amino acids. Biosynthesis of amino acids. Peptides: the peptide bond. Structure and properties, Synthesis of peptides. Protective and activating groups. Automatized synthesis of peptides. Structural determination of primary sequence of proteins.
  • Unit 1.3: Nucleotides and polynucleotides. Bases based on purine and pyrimidine. Nucleosides and Nucleotides. Polynucleotides. Phosphoric ester position. Glucids. Bases. Union between glucids and bases. Chemical synthesis of nucleic acids and determination of the sequence of nucleotides.
  • Unit 1.4: Lipids. Classification. Simple Lipids: Waxes and Acylglycerols. Complex Lipids: Phosphoglycerates. Derivatized lipids.
  • Unit 1.5: Isoprenes. Sources of isoprenes and main features. Isoprene rule. Biological isoprene. Classification of isoprenes. Biosynthesis of isoprenes. Modified isoprenes. Terpene and pre-terpenes. Steroids: main features, biogenesis and main chemistry. Steroisomery. Sterols. Vitamin D. Bilary Acids: Structure and biology. Steroic Hormones: Structure and biology. Synthetic Steroids Hormones: Structure and biology. Carotenoids: Clasification and biosynthesis. Structure elucidation of carotenoids. Vitamin A. Xantophiles and carotenoic acis. Other isoprenes.
• Unit 2: Structure and function of biological macromolecules.
  • Unit 2.1: "Secondary Structure of Proteins". Angles and Ramachandran diagrams. Description of the secondary structures. Alpha helix and other helical conformations. Parallel and antiparallel sheets. Turns. Supersecondary structures or motifs.
  • Unit 2.2: "Tertiary structure of proteins". Classes of tertiary structures of proteins according to the predominant secondary structure. Structural domains. Spatial structure of proteins. packaging. Topological diagrams.
  • Unit 2.3: "Quaternary structure of proteins". Oligomeric proteins. Organization of the subunits. Types of symmetry. Classes of quaternary structures according to the shape of the molecule: globular proteins and fibrous proteins. Flexibility and dynamics of proteins. Alterations of the quaternary structure.
  • Unit 2.4: "Conformational stability of proteins". Stable conformations of proteins: the denaturation equilibrium. Thermodynamic stability of proteins. Measurement of conformational stability. Interactions that contribute to protein stability and relative importance. Irreversible inactivation: covalent and non-covalent. Protein stabilization strategies.
  • Unit 2.5: "Protein folding". General properties of protein folding. Chronological sequence of protein folding: stages. Cis/trans isomerization of X-Pro bonds. Formation of native internal disulfide bridges. Protein folding in cells: molecular chaperones. Alterations of the folding process and consequences on the function: conformational diseases.
  • Unit 2.6: "Structure and function of polysaccharides". Structural levels of polysaccharides. Structure-function relationship of polysaccharides: reserve and structural polysaccharides.
  • Unit 2.7: "Protein interactions with saccharides". Structure and function of protein-saccharide conjugates: glycoproteins and proteoglycans. Functions of lectin-carbohydrate interactions.
  • Unit 2.8: "Secondary structure of DNA". Secondary structure of DNA proposed by Watson and Crick: the double helix model. Forces that stabilize the DNA double helix. Deviations of the DNA structure with respect to the model proposed by Watson and Crick. DNA double helix polymorphism. Less common secondary structures of DNA: bends, hairpins, crossovers, triplex DNA, and tetraplex DNA.
  • Unit 2.9: "Tertiary structure of DNA". Circular and superhelical DNA. DNA topology: supercoiling and topoisomerases.
  • Unit 2.10: "Secondary and Tertiary Structure of RNA". The type A double helix of RNA. Differences with the secondary structure of DNA. RNA types and tertiary structure: messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA and ribozymes.
  • Unit 2.11: "Stability and folding of nucleic acids". Factors that determine the stability of the double helix. DNA denaturation and hybridization. DNA folding levels.
  • Unit 2.12: "Protein-nucleic acid interactions". Forces established between nucleic acids and proteins. Sequence specific and non-specific interactions. Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins. DNA-binding protein structural motifs. RNA-protein interactions.
  • Unit 2.13: "Protein-lipid interactions". Membrane lipids. Characteristics of fatty acids present in cell membranes. Lipid composition of the different cell membranes. Types of membrane proteins. Lipid bilayer asymmetry. Ring lipids. Lipids as second messengers. Lipoproteins: structure, composition and transport.
  • Unit 2.14: "Examples of macromolecular assemblies: study of their structure through group work and oral presentation". Chaperonins: GroEL. Proteasome. Photosystems. Nuclear pore. Intercellular channels: connexins. Pore-forming proteins: toxins. Nucleosomes. Ribosome. Adenovirus.
• Unit 3: PROGRAM OF PRACTICAL CLASSES IN THE COMPUTER ROOM: Use of three-dimensional databases of macromolecules (PDB). Other structural databases. Visualization of three-dimensional structures using RasMol and PyMOL. Multiple alignment of amino acid sequences. Prediction of the secondary structure of proteins.

Training Activity	Methodology	Related Competences (only degrees before RD 822/2021)	ECTS	Hours	As	Com	Description
Class Attendance (theory) [ON-SITE]	Lectures	E01 E19 G01 T10	2.2	55	N	N	Master classes where the professor lecture the units of the subject in the theory schedule.
Problem solving and/or case studies [ON-SITE]	Problem solving and exercises	E01 E19 G01 G03 T10	0.48	12	Y	N	Resolution of the problems of each of the units and subunits. This activity is assessable but not mandatory. This activity is not compensable in the ordinary exam.
Computer room practice [ON-SITE]	Practical or hands-on activities	E19 G01 G03 T10	0.64	16	Y	Y	The Assistance to practice sessions is mandatory and not compensable to pass the subject. Meanwhile the assessment of the practice sesión will be compensable.
Other on-site activities [ON-SITE]	Group Work	E01 E19 G01 G03 T10	0.12	3	Y	N	The student will present and defend one dissertation related to the units of the subject. This activity will be assessable but not mandatory.
Final test [ON-SITE]	Assessment tests	E01 E19 G01 G03 T10	0.1	2.5	Y	Y	The assessment of the subject includes a final test at the end of the semester. To pass the test it is mandatory to reach 4 points over 10 in the test. The assessment is mandatory and compensable.
Other off-site activity [OFF-SITE]	Problem solving and exercises	E01 G01 G03	1.96	49	Y	N	Delivery by the student of worksheets proposed by the professor. The assessment of this activity is compensable.
Study and Exam Preparation [OFF-SITE]	Self-study	E01	2.76	69	N	N
Mid-term test [ON-SITE]	Assessment tests	E01 E19 G01 G03 T10	0.06	1.5	Y	N	Test at the end of the first semester to assess the first unit of the subject. This activity allows the student to be evaluated and this grade will be taked in consideration at the end of the subject in both summons. This test is assessable, compensable and not mandatory. To past the test it is mandatory to reach 4 points over 10.
Other off-site activity [OFF-SITE]			0.68	17	N	N
Total:			9	225
Total credits of in-class work: 3.6			Total class time hours: 90
Total credits of out of class work: 5.4			Total hours of out of class work: 135

As: Assessable training activity
Com: Training activity of compulsory overcoming (It will be essential to overcome both continuous and non-continuous assessment).

Evaluation System	Continuous assessment	Non-continuous evaluation *	Description
Assessment of problem solving and/or case studies	10.00%	0.00%	This problems will be related witht the content of the units in the master classes and the practice sessions. For the assessment of the problem solving, it will be taken in account the quality of oral expression, the correction in the solution of the problems. To pass this activity it is mandatory to reach 4 points over 10.
Final test	70.00%	85.00%	This is the final test of the subject to be done by the end of the year. It is mandatory to reach 4 points over 10 to pass the test. The contents of the unit 1 ("Bloque I") can be compensated by the mid-term test.
Laboratory sessions	15.00%	15.00%	It will be assessed the practice report delivered by each student and the mark of the practice test.
Oral presentations assessment	5.00%	0.00%	The student will present a disertation of a project related with the content of the subject. It will be assessed the ability of the student to focus on the content, their communication skills and the ability to team-work.
Total:	100.00%	100.00%

Not related to the syllabus/contents
Hours	hours

Author(s)	Title	Book/Journal	Citv	Publishing house	ISBN	Year	Description	Link	Catálogo biblioteca
Alberts B. y otros	Biología molecular de la célula (6e)			Omega		2016
Blackburn G.M., Gait M.J., Loakes D., Williams D.M.	Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology (3e)			RSC Publishing		2006
Bruice, Paula Yurkanis	Química orgánica			Pearson Educación	978-970-26-0791-5	2008
Carey, Francis A.	Química orgánica			McGraw Hill	970-10-5610-8	2006	Libro de texto de Química Orgánica
Cox M.M. y Nelson D.L.	Lehninger: Principios de Bioquímica (6e)			Omega	978-84-282-1486-5	2014	Libro de texto de Bioquímica
Garret R.H. & Grisham G.M.	Biochemistry (5e)			Cengage Learning	9781133106296	2012	Libro de texto de Bioquímica
Mathews C.K., Van Holde K.E., Ahern K.G.	Bioquímica (4e)			Pearson Educación S.A	9788478290536	2013	Libro de texto de Bioquímica
McKee T. y McKee J.R.	Bioquímica: las bases moleculares de la vida (5e)			McGraw-Hill		2014
McMurry, John	Organic chemistry			Thomson/Brooks/Cole	0-534-42005-2	2004	Libro de Texto de Química Orgánica
Miller, Andrew	Essentials of chemical biology : structure and dynamics of b			John Wiley	978-0-470-84530-1	2008	Libro muy util tanto para estructura y funcion como para la asignatura de determinación estructural
Neidle S.	Principles of nucleic acid structure			Elsevier Inc.	978-0-12-369507-9	2008	Libro de texto de estructura de ácidos nucleicos	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780123695079
Petsko G. y Ringe D.	Protein Structure and Function			New Science Press		2008
Stryer L., Berg J.M., Tymoczko J.L	Bioquímica (7e)			Reverté S.A.	9788429176025	2013	Libro de texto de Bioquímica
Voet D., Voet J.G.	Bioquímica (4e)			Editorial Médica Panamericana	9789500623018	2016	Libro de texto de Bioquímica
Vollhardt, K. Peter C.	Organic chemistry : structure and function			W. H. Freeman and Company	0-7167-2721-8	1998	Libro de Texto de Química Orgánica
Whitford D.	Proteins: Structure and Function.			Wiley	9780471498940	2005	Libro de texto de estructura y función de proteínas