English

Every autumn semester

The course aims at giving the student:
- molecular-level understanding of the structure, stability, interactions and dynamics of proteins
- knowledge about the principal physical methods used in modern protein science
- practical experience in using some of these methods
- the knowledge base needed to use and critically assess the protein research literature

- The chemical building-blocks and three-dimensional structures of proteins: Structure analysis by X-ray crystallography; Structure and sequence databases; Bioinformatics.
- Protein characterization by optical spectroscopy: Physical principles and applications of fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy.
- Polypeptide conformation: Models of polymer conformation and conformational transitions; Conformational entropy; Folding cooperativity.
- Protein energetics and stability: Packing; Hydration; Electrostatics; Thermal and solvent-induced denaturation; Differential scanning calorimetry.
- Protein dynamics: Kinetic models; Proton exchange; Diffusion control; Protein folding; Computer simulation of proteins.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance: Principles of NMR spectroscopy and relaxation; Analysis of structure, interactions and dynamics of proteins in solution.
- Association processes: Ligand binding; Allostery; Protein aggregation; Isothermal titration calorimetry; Surface plasmon resonance.

describe the principal physico-chemical properties of proteins, such as structure, stability, interactions and dynamics
account for these properties in terms of molecular-level theroetical models
interpret experimental results from physico-chemical studies of proteins

use physico-chemical concepts and models to solve problems involving proteins
apply his/her theoretical knowledge to biotechnological and biomedical problems
use electronic protein databases
carry out spectroscopic measurements on proteins

read and critically assess the research literature in protein science
communicate effectively with researchers in protein science

Lectures

Seminars

Laboratory exercises

Project

Study visit

Written exam

Seminars given by participants

Failed, pass

Under graduate courses in physical chemistry or physics including thermodynamics, intermolecular interactions and molecular dynamics.

 

The course literature consists of the compendium "Biophysical Chemistry", authored and updated each year by the course teachers, and of manuals for the practicals. For those who want go deeper, the compendium provides a list of selected references and links to the literature.

KFKN10F

 -05-15

Margareta Sandahl