3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1017593BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students must have followed ‘Biochemistry’, before they can enroll for ‘Molecular Structure Function & Design’.
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Science and Bio-engineering Sciences
Department
Bio-Engineering Sciences
Educational team
Ruslan Efremov (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
13 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

This course builds on the Biochemistry course of the 2nd bachelor and focuses on the intrinsic relation between the structure and the function of biological macromolecules and applications in design. The following topics are discussed in detail: 

•    Protein composition and structure (refreshing)

•    Catalytic strategies (refreshing)

•    Regulatory strategies (refreshing)

•    Membrane channels and pumps

•    Signal-transduction pathways

•    DNA replication, repair and recombination

•    Sensory system

•    Immune system

•    Molecular motors

•    Drug development

The course includes practicals on computers that teach students how to visualize and analyze protein structure using program pymol. Students choose a protein for which they perform structure analysis which they summarize in a written report and a short oral presentation. 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Molecular Structure Function & Design, Slides
Handbook (Recommended) : Biochemistry, Tymoczko and Stryer, 8de, Freeman, 9781319114657, 2019
Additional info

-Slides and manuals deposited on the learning platform.

-Handboek: Biochemistry: Berg, Tymoczko and Stryer, 8the edition, Freeman

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

-In this course students learn about and get insight on some of the key aspects of modern molecular biology: the structure function relation of proteins and other complex macromolecules. We do this in the context of key physiological processes such as signal transduction, sensing, molecular movement, immune reactions, ...

-During the course, we teach the students that structural biology is an evolving sciences, meaning that many details are still unknown or uncertain.

- During practicals students will acquire practical skills in methods for visualizing and analyzing protein structure.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling Examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Mondeling examen, dat vooraggegaan wordt door een mondelinge voorbereiding

Additional info regarding evaluation

Evaluation has multiple components: 

25% of the grade is composed of assessment of the report and presentation of  practical work. 

Oral examination, preceded by a written preparation will include 3 questions (25% each)

First question will require student to assign protein sequence based on the 3D structure of a protein fragment  and describe its structural properties. 

Possible other two questions include:

•    Describe the difference between type 1 and type 2 topoisomerases

•    Describe the coordinated replication of DNA

Describe the molecular basis of antibody diversity

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Cell and Gene Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Initial track (only offered in Dutch)