Cardiovascular Science and Disease (CARD0004)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biosciences|Bioenergetics and Metabolism|Cell Biology|Molecular Biology

CELL BIOLOGY|MOLECULAR BIOLOGY|PROTEINS AND ENZYMES|METABOLISM

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology aims to introduce some of the concepts and techniques which are important in the study of the biological sciences. The...

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIOC0001)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology aims to introduce some of the concepts and techniques which are important in the study of the biological sciences. The module is divided into three core subject areas which are Cell and Molecular Biology, Proteins and Enzymes and Metabolism.

At the end of the module you can expect to have covered the following subjects:

Cell and Molecular Biology
Cellular diversity including prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
	Cellular functions and compartmentalisation
	Microscopy – looking at light, florescence and electron microscopy
	Recombinant DNA and genetic engineering
	Nucleotide and nucleic acid
	DNA replication and repair
	Transcription and translation
Proteins and Enzymes
Amino acids
	Protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary)
	The relationship between protein structure and function
	Enzymes and enzyme kinetics
Metabolism
Metabolic strategies and energy currency
	Glycolysis
	Fatty acid oxidation
	Citric acid cycle
	Amino acid catabolism
	Oxidative phosphorylation
As well as attending the lecture series you will take part in three laboratory based practicals and two on-line practical simulation classes. There will be continual formative assessment followed by a theoretical test in Term 2 and a data analysis examination in Term 3.

CASE STUDY|TECHNIQUES IN DRUG DISCOVERY|PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

This module introduces an overview of the pipeline of drug discovery and explores some themes that cover specific examples of drug discovery stories,...

Modern Aspect of Drug Discovery (PHAY0029)

This module introduces an overview of the pipeline of drug discovery and explores some themes that cover specific examples of drug discovery stories, techniques used in the analysis of drugs and their targets and the structure of the industry responsible for this process and the challenges that it faces.

 The module is divided into three themes: ‘Drug Discovery Case Studies’ describes the discovery of beta blockers and GPCR drugs and targets (Professor Munday); inhibitors of protein-protein interactions (Dr Wells); enzymes as drug targets (Dr Wilderspin); antibiotics and the search for new antibiotic medicines (Dr Stapleton).

 The theme ‘Techniques in Drug Discovery’ explains the use of HPLC (Prof Valko, GSK), electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (Dr Smyth), NMR in the investigation of drug molecules (Prof Zloh) and the use of X-ray crystallography (Dr Parkinson), immunochemistry (Dr Martinez-Bravo) and technology used in the investigation of drugs and drug targets.

 The theme ‘Pharmaceutical Industry and New Technologies’ describes the structure of large pharma and the small and medium enterprises involved (Dr Holt, ex-Astrazeneca); the challenges faced by the pharma industry (Prof Ratcliffe, ex-Astrazeneca); the opportunity for biotechnology and business development (Dr Gergely Toth, Garderam Therapeutics); pharma funding (Usha Back, Findia Partners) the rise in biopharmaceuticals (eg. hormones, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines) and biosimilars that form a major part of new therapeutic technology (Prof Munday/Dr Wilderspin/Dr Martinez-Bravo).