Biochemical Toxicology, 15 hp

This course covers the central topics of xenobiotic metabolism with emphasis on aspects such as chemical reactivity; uptake, distribution, activation, conjugation and excretion of xenobiotics; the cytochorme P-450 system; glutathion transferases; induction of enzymatic activities; toxins; cancer; mutations; screening for mutagenic and carcinogenic substances. The course is divided into three parts. I. Xenobiotic metabolism: You will get a good overview on how xenobiotics (i.e. exogenous substances including toxic compounds, medical drugs and other chemicals in our environment) and reactive oxygen species, are metabolized and detoxified. II. Toxic and genotoxic mechanisms: You will receive an introduction to different types of toxic mechanisms, i.e., processes which result in different types of cellular damage, and on cellular responses to such damage. III. Problem Based Learning (PBL) project: The PBL projects are intended as a complement to the information provided in the lectures. The subjects include some important topics that are not covered in other parts of the course and/or a deeper study of the subjects presented in the lectures. You will gain experience in how to gather scientific and toxicological information and how to write a scientific report on the information thus obtained. Finally, you will also present this report orally to the other course participants. The language to be used in this connection will be English, which is the scientific language of today. Under special circumstances the report may be presented orally in Swedish after consultation with the course leaders. The course is given March-June.

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Svante Arrhenius väg 16

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