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Structure and Function of Proteins

Code 8438
Year 1
Semester S2
ECTS Credits 6
Workload TP(60H)
Scientific area Biochemistry
Entry requirements Not applicable.
Mode of delivery Face to face.
Work placements Not applicable.
Learning outcomes The main objective is to study the structural and conformational characteristics of proteins and their biological function. It is also intended to relate conformational changes with certain diseases through examples of proteins that perform diverse biological functions.
At the end of this course students should be able to:
-Identify and describe the fundamental principles that define the structure and conformation of proteins and the mechanisms that control in vitro and in vivo protein folding;
-Describe the relation between the onset of neurodegenerative diseases with protein conformational changes;
-Explain the cellular strategies for protein quality control;
-Apply different methods for crystalization and analysis of proteins (X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism, IR spectroscopy, fluorescence, nuclear magnetic resonance, surface plasmon resonance);
-Demonstrate capacity for critical analysis and presentation of scientific papers.
Syllabus 1- Visualization and computational design of organic molecules. Analysis of molecular interactions between protein receptors and ligands by computational methods (Docking).
2-Physical methods for structure determination of proteins: X-rays diffraction crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Circular Dichroism (CD). Determination of protein-ligand interactions by Surface Plasmon Resonance. IR spectroscopy, fluorescence.
3-Membrane proteins. Expression, purification and crystallization methods.
4-Cellular strategies for protein quality control;.
5-Protein Folding. Conformational stability. In vitro and in vivo folding mechanisms. Misfolding and disease: molecular mechanisms of formation of protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases.
6-Experimental work:
-Crystallization of lysozyme.
-CD of proteins.
-Determination of structure of a protein by NMR.
-Structural Analysis of Protein-ligands Interactions by SPR.

Main Bibliography 1. Required reading
-Kessel, A., Ben-Tal, N (2018) “Introduction to Proteins: Structure, Function, and Motion” 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, (ISBN 978-1-4987-4717-2)
-Petsko, G. & Ringe, D. (2017) "Protein Structure and Function", Primers in Biology, Oxford University Press (ISBN13 9780878936632)
-Xiong, J (2012) Essential Bioinformatics, Cambridge University Press (ISBN: 9780511806087)
-Whitford, D. (2005) "Proteins: Structure and Function", Wiley (ISBN: 978-0-471-49894-0)
- Young, D. (2009) Computational drug design: a guide for computational and medicinal chemists, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (ISBN: 978-0-470-12
-Selected papers

2. Recommended reading
-Muñoz, V (2008) Protein Folding, Misfolding and Aggregation, RSC Biomolecular Siciences (ISBN 978-1-84755-828-2)
- Patrick, G.L. (2010) An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, 4th Ed., Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780198749691
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria Teaching process will be focused on the student, where its active participation in the learning process will allow greater development of thinking skills and self-evaluation. The pedagogical methodology is based on teaching educational objectives and problem based learning. The tutor guides students in searching relevant information to reach the expected results at the end of the learning process. The laboratorial lectures involve experimental work in which students apply their knowledge in the execution of experimental techniques as well as in data analysis and results interpretation.
Assessment - Final Mark (FM): Mod1 (15%) + Mod2 and 3 (70%) + Seminar (15%).
Mod1: Bioinformatics work.
Mod 2 and 3: Two partial written tests.
Seminar: Oral presentation of a scientific paper.
The Final Exam (FE) corresponds to 70% of the FM (Mod 2 and 3). Minimum Frequency mark: 9.5 pts in Mod 1 and 9.5 in the Seminar.
A minimum of 9.5 pts is needed to pass in Mod 2 and 3.
Language Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
Last updated on: 2024-03-13

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