PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND FOLDING|PROTEIN STRUCTURE/ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP|STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY METHODS|

This 15 credit module covers all aspects of the structure and function of proteins at an intermediate level. It requires a sound knowledge of chemistry and...

Biomolecular Structure and Function (BIOC0009)

This 15 credit module covers all aspects of the structure and function of proteins at an intermediate level. It requires a sound knowledge of chemistry and assumes an understanding of basic cell and molecular biology. The module looks at many of the biophysical techniques used in elucidated structure and mechanism. It combines traditional lecture teaching with tutorials.
A wide range of topics is covered including: protein structure and properties, purification of recombinant proteins, including high throughput methods for purification and analysis, basic principles of nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray crystallography, enzyme mechanisms, enzyme kinetics, and examples of essential proteins and their properties, including hemoglobin, antibodies, DNA polymerase, membrane proteins and chaperones.

Indicative lecture list (based on 2021/22)

Lecture 01: Introduction to the course

Lecture 02: Protein Structure principles

Lecture 03: Secondary structure and supersecondary motifs

Lecture 04: Classification of protein folds

Lecture 05: Protein energetic and dynamics

Lecture 06: Protein folding/intra- and inter molecular forces

Lecture 07: Protein purification methods/high throughput

Lecture 08-10: Protein characterisation (X-ray crystallography/NMR/EM/binding equilibrium)

Lecture 11: Protein/DNA interaction: DNAP

Lecture 12: Pilus biogenesis

Lecture 13: Myoglobin and haemoglobin

Lecture 14-15: Membrane proteins

Lecture 16: GPCRs and heterologous protein expression

Lecture 17: Molecular chaperones

Lecture 18: Structure-guided mutagenesis

Lecture 19: Ribosomes

Lecture 20-21: Antibodies

Lecture 22: Fundamental principles of enzyme kinetics

Lecture 23: The specificity constant and two-substrate mechanisms

Lecture 24: Inhibition of enzyme-catalysed reactions

Lecture 25: Enzymes: effect of pH; recognising cooperativity

Lecture 26-27: Catalytic strategies

Lecture 28-29: Enzyme mechanisms

Lecture 30: Revision