Integrated Cellular Metabolism

This course unit allows students to deepen their knowledge of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism, emphasizing the links between different metabolic pathways. It also shows how different tissues communicate to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolism that cause certain diseases will be presented.

• In-depth knowledge of integrated metabolism and its various levels of control within the cell.
• Integration of metabolic regulation systems at the organism level (example of blood sugar levels).
• Metabolism of nitrogen compounds (biological nitrogen cycle, amino acid anabolism, nucleotide anabolism)
• Lipid synthesis pathways (glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol)
• Understanding the close links between lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
• Understanding the different roles at the cellular and physiological levels of molecules derived from lipid metabolism, including, for example, steroid compounds and lipid second messengers.
• Understanding the links between metabolism, signaling, and vesicular/membrane trafficking (autophagy, insulin signaling, mTOR pathways)
• Metabolic disorders (lysosomal diseases, mitochondrial diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc.)
• Understanding the types of metabolism found in various types of cells (cancer cells, neurons, liver cells, etc.) in relation to their environment, functions, and energy requirements (and any abnormalities).
• Introduction to the metabolism of free radicals and the dangers they pose to cells. Highlighting the mechanisms of protection against free radicals.
• Control of food intake and metabolism

Know-how

• Know how to analyze experimental data in metabolism, formulate hypotheses, and propose ways to test them.
• Knowledge of metabolism study techniques, their scope of application, cost, advantages, and limitations
• Know how to summarize and extract important information from a simple scientific article on metabolism.

Interpersonal skills

• Demonstrate autonomy and determination in order to synthesize metabolic pathways and know how to integrate them into an organ.

Demonstrate intellectual curiosity in order to predict a metabolic disorder based on the metabolic defects described.

Biochemistry S3, HLVA403V (Biochemistry S4)