The aim of this work is to review the main processes involved on the regulation of cell metabolism. Concerning enzymatic regulation two aspects are focused, allosteric and hormonal regulation. This article shows as the energetic profile of the cell straightly influences intra and extracellular metabolic regulation, the importance of phosphorylation mechanisms for enzymatic regulation and how principal metabolic pathways are reciprocally and antagonistically regulated.

 (28 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Sônia Valéria Pinheiro Malheiros

Keywords: metabolism, regulation, enzymes, hormones.

It is well known that the presence or absence of food can drastically influence the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Furthermore, it is established that each different tissue has a characteristic metabolic profile. This work reviews the metabolism of main fuels of the cell considering the metabolic specificity of the following cell or tissues: red blood cell, brain, liver, muscle and fat, focusing the deep metabolic integration that occurs in living organisms.

 (49 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Sônia Valéria Pinheiro Malheiros

Keywords: metabolic integration, fasting, absortive period.

This work presents a practical class to study the “in vitro” carbohydrates digestion. We used gelatinized starch as substrate and two usual digestive medicines as the amylase source. The enzymatic reactions were made in the dissolutor equipment, temperature 37o C, constant agitation, and buffers to simulate the stomach and small intestine pH. To evaluate the pancreatic enzymes in the medicines, we made an amylase assay using a purified enzyme. The glucose concentration in the reaction middle was measured 0, 30, 60, 90 e 120 min after the starting reaction. These results show differences between the two medicines amylase activity.

 (26 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Maria Teresa Pedrosa Silva Clerici, Roberval Serafim Da Silva, Armindo Antonio Alves

Keywords: Carbohidrates digestion, biochemistry practical classes

This article describes the process of construction and application of low-cost models in the field of cell and molecular biology. The microscopic character of the contents in these two disciplines may turn the didactic approach too abstractional, difficulting the learning process. At the same time, the lack of laboratories and equipments in many schools compromises the teaching of these disciplines. In this context, undergraduate students of biological sciences developed and applied seven models with secondary students at a public school, used as didactic materials to support the Biology discipline content. The results were very positive both for secondary and undergraduate students.

 (25 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Tereza Cristina Orlando, Adriene Ribeiro Lima, Ariadne Mendes Da Silva, Carolina Nakau Fuzissaki, Cíntia Lacerda Ramos, Daisy Machado, Fabrício Freitas Fernandes, Júlio César C. Lorenzi, Marisa Aparecida De Lima, Sueli Gardim, Valéria Cintra Barbosa, Thales De Astrogildo E Trèz

Keywords: three-dimensional models, secondary level, cell biology, molecular biology, biology teaching.

This article aims to describe the most important historical and scientific facts that permitted today’s understanding of the structure and functionality of the DNA molecule. We believe that recovering history and divulging it culturally integrates new and old generations to the contemporary society we belong to, facilitating the learning and the understanding about our constitution and functionality, as well as allowing us to speculate about our future, our evolution, the life on our planet, and the focus and course of new research in this scientific area.

 (21 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Talles Henrique Gonçalves De Oliveira, Neusa Fernandes Dos Santos, Leila Maria Beltramini

Keywords: history, science, life

Posters are probably the means of communicating information used most frequently by young scientists. In this work, a guide for building better posters is presented: It provides students with objective information and practical suggestions that may facilitate poster design an improve quality and impact. In my experience, students generally appreciate the contribution of the guide.

 (12 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Manuel João Costa

Keywords: Guide, Construction, Posters, Students

Based on the evident lack of resources to the realization of experimental activities, especially in the Brazilian public high school establishments, and observing a considerable increase in the scholar use of computers, this paper presents an electronic guide containing biochemical experiments, that intends to complement the actual classes, neither substituting other kinds of subjects, nor serving as the students unique contact with the practical activities, but contributing as a teaching and learning tool. The site brings up interactive texts, including a theoretical introduction to important topics in food biochemistry and the description of the experimental proceedings, which always shows a demonstrative photographic sequence that allows the virtual accompaniment of the experiments. This website can be accessed by the virtual address http://www.fcfar.unesp.br/alimentos/bioquimica/menu.htm, where forms are available, aimed for evaluation and constant material improvement.

 (18 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Karina Aparecida Freitas Dias De Souza, Valdir Augusto Neves

Keywords: food biochemistry, virtual experiments

Our study aims at demystifying the action of lactate in events of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) resulting from vigorous physical exercise. For such, we have made use of three exhaustion runs (3 X 250 meter runs in official 400 meter long tracks, with active recovery 150 meter long breaks). Five students (3 men and 2 women average age 21 years old) have participated in the test. Our objective was to propose a non-habitual strenuous physical activity so as to increase the concentration of lactate to induce a certain level of muscle discomfort. 3ml of blood were collected before the physical activity (control value , CO), immediately afterwards (T0h), two hours later (T2h) and four hours later (T4h), so as to obtain the amounts of lactate (in whole blood) and of creatine kinase (in plasma). The analysis of the concentration of lactate was conducted using the device Accutrend Lactate and the levels of CK in plasma measured through the reactive method CK NAC, Kinetic Method, Laborlab making use of a spectophotometer. There was a significant increase of lactate levels in the blood immediately after the physical effort. Nevertheless, after T2h and T4h, these levels decreased back to the same levels measured before the exercise, evidencing a natural strategic elimination of this lactate. An identical increase of the plasmatic concentration of CK could also be observed in all 5 individuals 4 hours after the physical exercise, with a significant increase in T4h when compared to the CO. The concentration of lactate in plasma goes back to the pre-exercise levels 2 hours after the intensive physical activity, long before the first symptoms of DOMS. It can be said, thus, that the significant increase of CK in the plasma 4 hours after the exercise leads us to conclude that an increase of permeability or stronger perturbation of the sarcolema constitutes a primary event in the development of the DOMS.

 (25 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Joaquim Maria Ferreira Antunes Neto, Patrícia Melo, Jairo Pinto Agostinho Filho, Nilda Patrícia Alves Magalhães, Leonardo Da Silva Pilatti, Mariana Ocanho Solder

Keywords: physical exercise, delayed onset muscle soreness, creatine kinase, lactate

The traditional curricula of medical schools have emphasized the acquisition of knowledge rather than its use, in the presentation of the basic sciences. Paradoxically, great part of the advances of the medical practice have been driven by the advances in the basic sciences.The problem-based learning (PBL) which rely on principles of cognitive psychology allow a better integration of the concepts of the basic sciences and clinical practice. This article approach the pedagogical model applied in the Medical School at Universidade Estadual de Londrina since 1998 and how the biochemistry contents have been introduced , in specific the Metabolism block.

 (12 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Lúcia Helena Mendonça Vargas

Keywords: Biochemistry, Learning, Problems

Frequently, scientific concepts are altered through scientific outbreaks, but little of that knowledge is passed on to students, especially those from Middle and High School, therefore the complexity of the information involved makes this approach more difficult. Nonetheless, these subject matters which awake people’s curiosity are talked about more and more as times change. A good example of that are both DNA and metabolism, generally relating these to subjects involving emerging diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer, among others. If the subject matter is so popular among means of communication, why not use a more technical approach on these topics in the classroom, showing students different ways of understanding and grasping concepts, basically though fun and playful activities. In this assignment two playful activities are described, both demonstrating, very practically, an alternative way of teaching mitotic cellular division process and physiology of the respiratory system to Middle School students, involving the discovering of important concepts to the comprehension of molecule phenomenon on the subject. Yet these activities have presented themselves as being of low production cost and easy implementation.

 (15 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Leandro Marcio Moreira

Keywords: Biochemistry learning, Molecular Biology Learning, Middle School, High School, Playful activities, Mitosis, Oxygen Transport

This study proposes a lab class to study protein digestion by proteases found in pharmaceutical preparations that contains digestive enzymes. The stomach and intestine pH, temperature and motion conditions were simulated using a dissolutor. This experiment allows students in the first terms of the undergraduate courses in Health Sciences, to learn how to use simple equipment and techniques that are fundamental to the study of protein digestion, and to learn the basic concepts of enzymology, since they will discuss concepts of the structure and function of proteins and suitable pH and temperature values for enzymatic reactions.

 (8 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Maria Teresa Pedrosa Silva Clerici, Roberval Serafim Da Silva, Armindo Antonio Alves

Keywords: protein digestion, enzymatic digestives, biochemical practical classes.

A new game, using analogies, presents the main aspects of protein synthesis. The purpose of this practice is to improve learning about the process of protein synthesis for students in high school. We use low cost and easy access materials to the development of this game. For students to understand the theory must be an introductory lecture on protein synthesis, before the implementation of this practice. To play, students are divided into two groups. The teacher gives each group a plug, representing an amino acid and a table with the genetic code. Students start the game by answering the questions raised by the opponent to get the permission for fishing from the nitrogen base. If the answer is correct the nitrogen bases will be delivered to the group, which will have to fill a panel that contains sequences corresponding to the messenger RNA, DNA and complementary DNA template, decoded from the amino acid provided by the teacher early in the game. The first group to complete all the steps of protein synthesis wins the game. The application of this practice in schools in the high schools of the Manaus city returned an excellent acceptance by the teachers, who reported the great enthusiasm of his students to use the game and an improvement in the understanding of the issue addressed in the classroom. Teachers also commented on the versatility of this practice, which was successfully used to address other issues. So the game is a practice that can be developed to complement the theoretical classes on the subject.

 (14 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Fábio Tonissi Moroni, Raquel Borges Moroni, Silvia C.b. Justiniano, Joselita M. M. Dos Santos

Keywords: nitrogen bases, Biochemistry, Teaching, protein synthesis, aminoacids, DNA, RNA, peptide bond, high school

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the difficulties that teachers face, in high school as well as in undergraduate education, with the comprehension and interconnection of basic concepts of Molecular Biology (MB) and also evaluating how issues related to this subject, such as genetic engineering, transgenic foods and genome projects has been assumed. The research purpose was to explore new strategies that can contribute to enhance the web of knowledge of the teachers, providing them with confidence to apply the referred subject in classroom. The sample survey included 127 teachers, carried out between 2001 and 2003. They had to reply to a questionnaire with 3 sections of 10 questions each. The first section asked about the identification of the interviewed. The second inquired about the MB conceptions and the third section was about the conceptions of Science. The first section’s analysis indicated that a significant part of the sample did not have MB during their initial formation. The second section showed that good number of the teachers presented an insufficient, and in some cases, inadequate knowledge. Mass media matters seem, for this reason, to be treated on a superficial way and without linking them to the involved cellular processes. A significant amount of the surveyed teachers seemed to have only reached the phase of nominal and functional in the process of scientific literacy, keeping them distant from the multidimensional phase, which indicates the necessity to include MB as part of the undergraduate programs, as well as to provide programs designed to inform about the genome.

 (9 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Solange Soares Camargo, Maria Elena Infante Malachias, José Mariano Amabis

Keywords: Genetics and molecular biology teaching – misconceptions – scientific literacy - biology

Skeletal muscle constantly generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the monoeletronic reduction of molecular oxygen. The traditional view states that during exercise mitochondria is the major site of ROS generation, under the control of skeletal muscle oxygen uptake. However this is not confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments. In fact the ROS generation is associated to an increased muscle contractile activity. The objective of this paper is to presents the possible sites and regulatory mechanisms of ROS generation in skeletal muscle. The roles of the different sites of ROS generation in skeletal muscle still are to be elucidated, but evidences points out mitochondria and xantine oxidase as the principal responsible for ROS generation in skeletal muscle during exercise.

 (13 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Paulo Guimarães Gandra, Denise Vaz De Macedo, Armindo Antonio Alves

Keywords: exercise, skeletal muscle, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, mitochondria, xantine oxidase

Biochemistry is a discipline of a basic cycle offered in almost all of the undergraduate health courses including Physiotherapy. The understanding of the details of the most fundamental processes in biochemistry is essential for the evaluation and treatment of clinical manifestations of diseases by qualified physiotherapists. However, a high percentage of the students present difficulties in the understanding of the contents or in recognizing their importance in acquiring professional competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiotherapy students’ view of applicability and importance of biochemistry concepts at the beginning of their studies utilizing an exploratory and a qualitative research method. The results will help teachers in their educational procedures and will provide students with a more practical and interesting approach to biochemistry, such as the application of theoretical knowledge to real situations (diseases, experiments, media information, and scientific discoveries).

 (23 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Tamara Deyse Lins Pinheiro, Juliana Alves Da Silva, Pamella Ramona Moraes De Souza, Magnely Moura Do Nascimento, Hermógenes David De Oliveira

Keywords: Biochemistry, Physiotherapy, Biochemistry teaching

For the past 13 years, at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, practical classes during the Biochemistry course for Biology students have been based on small research projects developed by the students. At the beginning of the semester, each group of four to six students receives a different question which they are required to answer experimentally. One third of the 90 hour/semester course is dedicated to the development of the projects. Students must research the subjects and choose the best way to solve the problem experimentally. They write a proposal which is discussed and evaluated by the professors and, only after extensively discussing the proposals, the project is executed. Only minimal tutoring is offered, so that the solution of the problem is found by the students themselves. At the end of the semester, students write a report in the format of a scientific paper and present their results at a public poster session. This experience has been successful, as judged by its continuity of 13 years with different teams of professors, by the enthusiasm shown by the students and by the number of Biology students that decide to pursue undergraduate lab training and subsequently graduate work in our Department.

 (9 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Leda Q. Vieira, Jacques R. Nicoli, Vânia F. Prado, Marcelo M. Santoro, Santuza M. R. Teixeira, Marcelo Porto Bemquerer, Paulo S. L. Beirão

Keywords: Practical Approach, Teaching, Biochemistry

The teaching of the Sciences associated with experimental activity has been encouraged by several authors. The carrying out of experimental lessons motivates students in their quest for knowledge. This paper describes a practical activity of Biochemistry which sets out pedagogical alternatives aiming at facilitating the learning of concepts about this branch of Biological Sciences as well as untying the shackles of what is instituted in the students’ negative imaginary in relation to Biochemistry. The study was conducted in public High Schools in the Northwest region of Rio de Janeiro State. The work consists in the development and implementation of a kit for teaching Biochemistry using alternative materials and/or low cost ones, such as syringes, wood, plastic bottles etc. In addition, the present project aims to be an agent which will stimulate to work by means of interdisciplinary teams within a holistic multi-disciplinary construction of knowledge that can be exploited in the biological accurate sciences.

 (16 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: William De Azevedo Pinheiro, Wendel Mattos Pompilho

Keywords: Teaching of Biochemistry; Alternative Materials; Classroom Practice.

The different courses offered in the health area at University, they receive each semester a great number of students, original of different schools of the high school and courses pre-entry examination. The cognitive capacity and of abstraction of each student, as well as the degree of relative previous knowledge to the area, they are factors that generate individual differences inside a same group. In some disciplines of the basic cycle, which are common to several courses of the area of the health, and that are inserted in the curriculum in the first semesters of the graduation courses, previous knowledge are of fundamental importance for the development of the theoretical programmatic content and practice of the discipline. The Biochemistry is a discipline example of cycle basic that is offered in practically all the courses of the health area and which requires mostly Chemistry notions and Cellular Biology. However, the knowledge sometimes acquired of a students certain group is a lot heterogeneous, what it demands of the Biochemistry teacher, the creation of an environment that stimulates the practice application than is being boarded in the scope of the discipline. This work argues the results of a research realized to the ingressants students in the Biochemistry discipline of the graduation courses of the Regional University Foundation of Blumenau - FURB, with the aim of evaluating the degree of previous knowledge.

 (8 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Patrícia Fernanda Beckhauser, Elzira Maria Almeida, Ana Lúcia Bertarello Zeni

Keywords: biochemistry, teaching, students universe

In the last two years the UNICSUL following a new institutional proposal of “Practical Learning”, has introduced new teaching strategies into several graduating courses, mostly based on the University’s intranet web. One of these approaches uses the Black Board Learning System, a ready-to-use and uncomplicated system that allows students to freely access specific topics of several disciplines (including the course schedule, practicing exercises and supporting extra activities) and also communicate online with colleagues and teachers. The software is provided with sufficient resources to improve classroom community sense launched by the emphasis on the general interactive skills in the teaching-learning process. This work focuses on the application of the Black Board system in the Biochemistry course for Nursery graduating students at UNICSUL during 18 months. Partial results points out significant positive achievements of the Black Board-experienced students based on the higher approval indexes compared to traditionally taught students (before 2003).

 (3 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Carmem Lúcia Costa Amaral, Carmem Lúcia Costa Amaral, Rubens César Lopes Figueira, Rubens César Lopes Figueira, Marcelo Paes De Barros

Keywords: .

The understanding of the kinetic parameters of an enzymatic reaction for first time students is usually difficult. Here is shown a simple way to introduce the concepts of maximum rate (Vmax) and specific activity or turnover number of an enzyme. Different simulations with different symbols representing the enzyme, the substrates and products are one, were the concentration of each species is changed at a given condition. At the beginning of the task, it is defined that one enzyme E catalyses the reaction with the substrate S, giving rise to one product P after one minute of reaction. This long time is used just to simplify the exercise. After that, several situations are presented, were the concentrations of E or S is changed, but the above definition is always maintained. After that, it is possible for the student to see that Vmax depends on the enzyme concentration, whereas the specific activity is constant and characteristic for an enzyme.

 (12 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Maria Lucia Bianconi

Keywords: Concepts, Velocity, Activity, Enzymes