Course code:
481B2		 Course name:
Free Radical Processes in Biochemistry

Academic year:

2024/2025.

Attendance requirements:

There are no requirements.

ECTS:

10

Study level:

doctoral academic studies

Study programs:

Biochemistry: 1. year, winter semester, elective (E72B2) course

Biochemistry: 1. year, winter semester, elective (E71B2) course

Biochemistry: 2. year, winter semester, elective (E73B2) course

Biochemistry: 2. year, winter semester, elective (E74B2) course

Teacher:

Milan R. Nikoliæ, Ph.D.
associate professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistants:

—

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: five hours of lectures + three hours of study research work

Goals:

The course is designed to enable students to understand the fundamental aspects of reactive species (free radicals) and antioxidant chemistry, biochemistry, and biology by studying the balance between oxidative and reductive processes in living systems.

Outcome:

At the end of the course, students will be able to: describe (bio)chemistry of free radicals; list free radicals caused damage/modifications of macromolecules; understand the effects of free radicals (reactive species) on biochemical processes in the body, as well as fundamental mechanisms of cell/organism protection free radicals.

Teaching methods:

Lectures and seminar paper.

Extracurricular activities:

—

Coursebooks:

Main coursebooks:

  1. R. Žikić, A. Štajn, Z. Saičić, M. Spasić, S. Milovanović: Toksikološki značaj zaštite od oksidacionih oštećenja, PMF Kragujevac, 2000. (str. 1-150)
  2. Barry Halliwell & John M.C. Gutteridge: Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine, 5th Ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.
  3. Free Radical and Antioxidant Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology Book 108), 1st Ed., Humana Press, 1998.

Supplementary coursebooks:

  • Power-point presentations from lectures; selected review papers.

Additional material:

http://www.chem.bg.ac.rs/~mnikolic/

  Course activities and grading method

Lectures:

10 points (5 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  • Free radical chemistry.
  • Reactive oxygen species.
  • Reactive nitrogen species.
  • Enzymatic and non-enzymatic production of free radicals in the body.
  • Biochemistry of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals.
  • Biochemical targets of free radicals in the cell.
  • Enzymatic and non-enzymatic system of antioxidant protection of organism.
  • The role of free radicals in cell signaling.
  • The role of free radicals in pathological and aging processes.

Semester papers:

40 points

Oral exam:

50 points

Study research work:

0 points (3 hours a week)