Structure and analysis of biomolecules
Theory: 4 hours/week | Practicals: 3 hours/week | ECTS Units: 5
Content – Aim of the course
Biochemistry studies the chemical reactions occurring in living organisms and therefore can be characterized as “the chemistry of living matter.” Biochemistry is the science which deals with the study of all biological processes at the molecular level. The aim of this course is to introduce the students to the structures of biological macromolecules and their interactions and associations to form large biologically functional structures. In addition, the students are introduced to the methodology of protein analysis and the study of structure-function relationships.
Analytical Description of the Course
- INTRODUCTION – BIOCHEMICAL CONSISTENCY AND VARIABILITY
- AMINOACIDS
- PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS
- TERTIARY STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS
- FOLDING OF PROTEINS
- PURIFICATION OF PROTEINS
- CARBOHYDRATES – GLYCOPROTEINS
- LIPIDS, BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES
- MEMBRANE CHANNELS AND PUNPS
- INTRODUCTION TO CHROMATOGRAPHY METHODS
- PROTEIN SEQUENCING
- PRODUCTION OF ANTIBODIES – ELISA
- PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS
- IMMUNOBLOTTING
- SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, CENTRIFUGATION
- IMMUNOCHEMISTRY – FLUORESCNCE LABELS
- PROTEOMICS
- 3D ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN STRCUTURE WITH NMR, AND MASS SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
- X-RAY PROTEIN CRYSTALLOGRAPH
Practicals
- The influence of pH to the solubility of proteins
- The influence of ionic strength to the solubility of proteins
- Spectrophotometric detection and quantification of proteins
- Carbohydrates analysis
Assessment
The final grade consists of 80% from the final examination at the end of the semester and 20% from the lab practice.
Reading Suggestions
- Biochemistry, Berg J.M., Tymoczko J.L., Stryer L., 7th edition.
- Introduction to the protein structure, Carl Branden & John Tooze
Teaching Material / E-class
Lecturers
Demetres Leonidas D. (Course Coordinator)
Anna Maria Psarra
Sotirios Marras
