Macromolecular structure and interactions
Summary
This course covers the basic biophysical principles governing the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of biomacromolecules involved in chemical processes of life. The course is held in English.
Content
- The conformation of biological macromolecules and membranes
- Forces in biomolecules
- Protein primary and secondary structure
- Tertiary structure of proteins
- DNA structure
- Conformations of unstructured polymers in solution (Gaussian chain models, freely-jointed chain, wormlike chain)
- Conformational equilibria and dynamics of polypeptides and proteins
- Thermodynamics of protein folding (folding equilibria, calorimetry of protein folding transitions)
- Kinetics of protein folding (folding pathways, intermediates)
- Conformational transitions in proteins (native state fluctuations, allostery, structural rearrangements in enzyme catalysis)
- Thermodynamics and kinetics of alpha-helix - coil transition
- Spectroscopy of Biomolecules
- Biomolecular absorption spectroscopy (UV absorption, circular dichroism)
- Biomolecular fluorescence
- Structural biology: X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy of proteins
- Ligand-receptor interactions
- Equilibrium binding reactions
- Binding inhibition
- Transport phenomena and stochastic processes in biology
- Fluctuations in biology
- Macromolecular diffusion
Keywords
biophysics, biophysical chemistry, protein, nucleic acid, structure, thermodynamics, kinetics, protein folding, spectroscopy, fluorescence, absorption, helix-coil, fluctuations, receptor, ligand
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
Biochemistry I
Chemical thermodynamics
Important concepts to start the course
General chemical and biochemical concepts
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Describe physical chemistry methods in biology
- Integrate chemical and physical concepts in biology
- Reason which methods are appropriate for a biological problem
Teaching methods
ex cathedra
Expected student activities
Attendance of the lectures
Study of indicated materials
Assessment methods
Written exam
Supervision
| Assistants | Yes |
Resources
Bibliography
"Principles of Physical Biochemistry", Van Holde, Prentice Hall
"Physical Biology of the Cell", Phillips, Kondev, Theriot, Garcia, Garland Science
Ressources en bibliothèque
Moodle Link
Prerequisite for
Dynamics of biomolecular processes
Chemical biology
Experimental biological & biophysical chemistry
Nanobiotechnology and Biophysics
Cellular Signaling
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Macromolecular structure and interactions
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Macromolecular structure and interactions
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional