Protein Chemistry

Aim

The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge in the following areas: The theoretical part deals with protein engineering, structural-functional relationships, the biophysical chemical properties of proteins and methodology for characterization of proteins. The experimental part deals with the expression of cloned proteins and methodology for characterization of these proteins.

After the course, the student is expected to be able to

Theoretical part:

• Identify how proteins are structured
• Use information from different databases to compare amino acid sequences and based on that make predictions related to the biophysical properties of the protein
• Use biophysical measurement data for characterization of proteins

Experimental part:

• Produce cloned proteins
• Formulate problems in the area, which can be answered with experimental methodology
• Work in groups in project form in the laboratory
• Have a reflective, scientific approach to theories and experimental data

Content

In the theoretical part, different structural motifs of proteins are treated, such as alpha domain structures, alpha/beta structures, antiparallel beta structures, multifunctional enzymes, membrane proteins, prediction of protein structures. Furthermore, the course deals with biophysical properties of proteins and methodology for studies of these: chemical properties of polypeptides, protein engineering, physical interactions that determine properties of proteins, i.e., the role of the hydrophobic interaction, the protein structure flexibility, protein stability, protein folding mechanisms, interaction with other molecules, enzyme catalysis.

The experimental part contains protein expression, biophysical properties of proteins and methodology for studies of these. Biophysical measurement methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) and calorimetry (ITC) are used. Furthermore, sequence analysis and structural modeling are used for analysis of results.