Frontiers in chemical biology
Summary
Chemical biology is a key discipline in biomedical research for drug discovery, synthetic biology and protein functional annotation. We will give a broad perspective of the field ranging from seminal classical experiments to state-of-the-art approaches to dissect and perturb biological systems.
Content
- Chemical & genetic screening
- DNA-encoded libraries
- Retooling the genetic code
- Chemical genetics methods
- Chemical genomics methods
- RNA-based probes
- Synthetic biology methods
- Site-specific protein tagging
- Transcriptional reporters
- Optochemical genetics
- Induced protein degradation
- Target ID and interactome profiling
- Activity-based probes
- Enzyme inhibitors: design and analysis
Keywords
Chemical biology, drug discovery, high-throughput screening, imaging, protein biochemistry, protein biophysics, post-translational modifications, biotechnology.
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
Students in this masters course are expected to have had previous bachelors courses in organic chemistry as well as biochemistry/chemical biology/biological chemistry. Basic genetics and cell biology background will also be helpful but are not necessary to do well in this course.
Recommended courses
The following master’s courses offered in EPFL are recommended:
Cellular signaling (in Spring 2020, by Prof. Ruud Hovius)
Chemical biology of cell imaging (in Fall 2019, by Prof. Rivera-Fuentes)
Important concepts to start the course
Students will benefit by refreshing basic organic chemistry and biological chemistry concepts and principles prior to the start of the course. Students are welcome to contact either of the two lecturers should they desire background reading/refreshing in advance of the course or specific topics.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Interpret key experimental strategies to address scientific problems with chemical biology techniques
- Assess / Evaluate chemical biology literature
- Design valid chemical biology experiments to answer biological questions
Transversal skills
- Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Presentation and discussion of scientific literature
Expected student activities
- Attendance to classes
- Discussion of scientific literature
- Class participation
Assessment methods
- Final written exam
Supervision
Office hours | Yes |
Assistants | No |
Forum | Yes |
Resources
Bibliography
Given the rapid development of this field, there is no single book that covers all the subjects for this course. Original research articles and reviews on the topic covered during the course will be discussed.
Notes/Handbook
Handouts and slides on the course website posted in advance of each lecture.
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Frontiers in chemical biology
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Frontiers in chemical biology
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Frontiers in chemical biology
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Frontiers in chemical biology
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Frontiers in chemical biology
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Frontiers in chemical biology
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
Reference week
Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | |
8-9 | |||||
9-10 | |||||
10-11 | |||||
11-12 | |||||
12-13 | |||||
13-14 | |||||
14-15 | |||||
15-16 | |||||
16-17 | |||||
17-18 | |||||
18-19 | |||||
19-20 | |||||
20-21 | |||||
21-22 |
Légendes:
Lecture
Exercise, TP
Project, other