Structural Biochemistry
Theory: 2 hours/week | Practicals: 2 hours/week | ECTS Units: 5
Lectures in the English language are offered to Erasmus students
Learning Outcomes
The course curriculum aims to familiarize students with structural biochemistry and the methods used for determining and analyzing the structure of biomolecules. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge regarding:
- Main categories of protein structures (all-alpha, alpha/beta, all-beta)
- Protein folding and flexibility
- Basic principles of protein crystallization
- X-ray crystallography
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
- Electron Microscopy (EM)
- The process of solving and refining crystal structures
Analytical Description of the Course
The course aims to provide students with the necessary theoretical background for a deeper understanding of protein structure and to introduce them to the fundamental principles of various techniques used for determining the three-dimensional structure of proteins. The course consists of two parts:
- Part I: Introduces students to the systematic study of various protein families to understand the architecture of protein structure and its relationship to function, as well as to identify common structural features and motifs among different proteins.
- Part II: Introduces the fundamental principles of X-ray crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Electron Microscopy (EM), which currently constitute the most widely used methods for 3D protein structure determination. The objective is to understand these techniques at both a theoretical and practical level as tools for solving protein structures and determining protein interactions with small molecules, such as natural substrates, regulators, and drugs.
Laboratory Exercises
- Crystallization of lysozyme
- Seeking and analysis of protein sequences
- Protein Data Bank
- Building and analysis of protein structures
Student Performance Evaluation
Written examinations at the end of the semester which include:
- Essay-type questions to assess knowledge and understanding of the course and laboratory content.
- Problem-solving exercises.
Suggested Bibliography
- Introduction to Protein Structure. Carl Branden & John Tooze.
- A non-mathematical introduction to protein crystallography. Nicholas Glykos
Teaching Material / E-class
Lecturers
