Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Macromolecular Structure, Dynamics and Function |
| Unit code |
BIOC20002 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Cory |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
BIOC10002, BIOC10003 & BIOC10004
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Biochemistry |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Life Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
The unit develops material introduced in the Level C/4 units: BCC, BCP, Biological Chemistry 1A and Biological Chemistry 1B.
It covers the structure of proteins and how they are studied experimentally, how cells extract energy from their surroundings, how energy is utilised to power molecular motors and the movement of molecules around the cell, and how molecular motors are used in cellular activities and structures.
Teaching is delivered through lectures, practical sessions and data handling workshops.
The unit develops understanding the following areas:
Element 1. Structural Basis of Disease
- The viral life cycle and drug development
- Use of genome sequences
- Structure-based drug design and X-ray crystallography
- Recombinant protein expression
- Development of drug resistance
- Challenges of deducing structures of membrane proteins
Element 2. Molecules in Motion
- Kinesin motors
- Myosin motors
- Dyenin motors
- Flagella and chemotaxis
- Microtubule dynamics and functions
Element 3. Powering Biological Systems
- Proton-coupled redox reactions
- The generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species
- Roles of redox reactions in biology
- Mitochondria and the production of ATP
- Photosynthesis in plants and bacteria
- Structures and dynamics of transporters
The unit aims to develop the following skills:
- Competency in biochemical techniques in the practical laboratory
- Numeracy and the ability to complete calculations based on protein purification, bioenergetics and redox potential
- The ability to research and describe a particular area of Biochemistry in written form.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to demonstrate the following:
- Knowledge and understanding of soluble and membrane proteins, and the techniques available for their study.
- Knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding drug design
- Knowledge and understanding of reactive oxygen species
- Knowledge and understanding of how cells extract energy from their surroundings to form ATP.
- Knowledge and understanding of secondary transport
- Knowledge and understanding of how ATP is used to power diverse molecular motors
- Knowledge and understanding of the functions of microtubules
- The ability to perform calculations based on protein purification and enzyme kinetics.
- The ability to perform calculations based on redox potential and solute transport.
- Knowledge and understanding of the techniques used in the practical sessions.
- The ability to research a specific biochemical topic using textbooks and the scientific literature and to present findings in a written format.
Teaching Information
Lectures
Data handling workshops
Practicals
Assessment Information
The overall mark for the unit will be determined as follows:
- One assessed essay (1500 word limit) (10%)
- Practicals (pre-lab quizzes, written laboratory reports and post-lab quiz) (10%)
- Three hour summative end of unit examination consisting MCQs, data handling questions and essays (80%)
Opportunities for formative feedback will be available for the practical reports, assessed essay and data handling workshops.
Intended learning outcomes will be assessed as follows:
- Learning outcomes 1-9 will be assessed through the three hour summative assessment.
- Learning outcomes 1-7 and 11 will also be assessed through the assessed essay.
- Learning outcomes 8 - 10 will also be assessed through the written laboratory reports.
Reading and References
Core reading:
- Voet & Voet, Biochemistry, Wiley
- Berg et al, Biochemistry, Freeman
- Alberts et al, Molecular biology of the cell, 2015
Additional/supplementary reading:
- Nicholls and Ferguson, Bioenergetics 4, Academic Press
- Stevens et al, Molecular biology of assemblies and machines, 2016
