Undergraduate Course: Structural Biology (BICH10007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Structural biology illuminates how biological molecules and macromolecular complexes are able to carry out their functions: in other words, it allows us to find out how biological machines actually work at a molecular level. The aim of this course is to enrich your understanding of structural molecular biology by considering 'the life-cycle of a protein'. |
| Course description |
We begin by recapping and building on knowledge gained in SFP3: the first two sessions will incorporate clicker-based revision sessions on protein and nucleic acid structures.
The lecture programme begins in the DNA world, where we consider protein evolution, domain conservation and how DNA is metabolised (i.e. moved, repaired and replicated). After DNA is transcribed and translated, we consider how nascent protein sequences are folded. We will also look at the roles of natively unstructured proteins.
In the protein world information is transmitted by interactions between molecules. In this context we will consider the protein-protein interactions underpinning accurate control of cell division, as well as protein-carbohydrate interactions involved in disease, and the exploitation of these in drug discovery. Finally we will consider how post-translational modifications of proteins can be detected and how they can enhance or alter a protein's function.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 27,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
71 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Feedback |
Formative feedback from in-course quizzes
Written general feedback on whole class exam performance
Script review session |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the evolution of protein structural motifs and domains and associate this with function;
- Use on-line structural databases and tools to predict the properties, structure and function of proteins.
- Understand and explain enzyme mechanisms in a structural context.
- Describe mechanisms of protein folding and the roles of natively unstructured proteins in biology.
- Understand how cross-talk between proteins and post-translational protein modifications (e.g. phosphorylation, ubiquitination) facilitate information processing in cells.
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Reading List
Molecular Biology of Assemblies and Machines by Steven, Baumeister, Johnson and Perham (Garland Science, available in the Murray Library)
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Additional Information
| Course URL |
https://www.edweb.ed.ac.uk/biology/current-students/biochemistry-honours |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Knowledge and understanding of structural molecular biology
Data interpretation and problem solving skills
Computational skills (for bioinformatics and structural analyses)
Synthesis of information |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
14 Lectures
2 Revision sessions
1 Structural workshop |
| Keywords | Molecular structure,Molecular machines,proteins,DNA metabolism,molecular mechanism,Pymol analysis |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Julia Richardson
Tel: (0131 6)50 7052
Email: julia.richardson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Louise Robertson
Tel: (0131 6)50 5988
Email: Louise.K.M.Robertson@ed.ac.uk |
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