Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Syllabus, Master's level, 1BG349
- Code
- 1BG349
- Education cycle
- Second cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Applied Biotechnology A1N, Biology A1N
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with credit (4), Pass with distinction (5)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 25 October 2019
- Responsible department
- Biology Education Centre
Entry requirements
150 credits including (1) 60 credits in biology and 30 credits in chemistry, or (2) 90 credits in chemistry and biology, including at least 60 credits in chemistry. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
Learning outcomes
The overall goal of this course is to give students advanced knowledge of the relationship between the structure and function of biomolecules.
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- account for the basis of biological macromolecules' constitution and traits
- explain structural mechanisms for how important biological processes take place and are controlled, for example catalysis, cell signalling and translation
- account for the principles of the most important methods for structural analysis: X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy and analyse the quality of models produced by these methods
- analyse structural details in macromolecules using a molecular graphics program
- use databases with information of structure and function of macromolecules
- use analyse, and critically evaluate results from methods to predict secondary - and tertiary structure of macromolecules
- explain basic concepts and critically assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of fundamental approaches in computational biology
- present and discuss scientific literature in the area of the course orally and in writing
Content
Basic structural biology and structural bioinformatics:
Basic macromolecular structure: proteins, DNA, and RNA. Methods for experimental structure determination of macromolecules and complexes. Biological sequence and structure databases. Sequence analysis. Relation between sequence, structure and function. Prediction of secondary- and tertiary structure of proteins and nucleic acids based on sequence data. Structure analysis and classification of proteins in structural families.
Structural biology of the cell:
Macromolecular structure and function in translation, folding and other fields of cell biology. The folding process and structural background to the dynamics of macromolecules.
Binding specificity, catalysis and cooperativity in enzymes and receptors. Introduction to structure-aided drug discovery.
Introduction to computational modelling of ligand binding, protein folding and enzyme catalysis.
Instruction
Instruction is provided in the form of lectures, computer exercises, laboratory sessions, seminars and projects. Participation in computer exercises, laboratory sessions, seminars and project are compulsory.
Assessment
Modules: Theory 7 credits; Seminars, computer exercises, and laboratory sessions 3.5 credits; Project 3 credits; Written report in Computational biology 1.5 credits. The theory is examined through written examinations. Computer exercises and laboratory sessions require active participation. The project is examined through written and oral presentation.
If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.
Other directives
Cannot be included in the same degree as 1BG351 Structure and Function of Biomolecules 10 credits.
Reading list
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2023, version 2
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2023, version 1
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2022
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2020
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2019
- Reading list valid from Spring 2016
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2015
- Reading list valid from Spring 2013
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2012
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2011
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2010
- Reading list valid from Autumn 2008