Exploring Proteins: Structure and Function

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• You will be able to critically read scientific publications that deal with structural biology
• You will be able to explain the scope and relevance of protein science.
• You will be able to explain key concepts in protein function such as affinity and specificity, allosteric regulation.
• You will be able to access, use and evaluate the information available in protein databases to find out about a protein of interest
• You will be able to recognize and describe the architecture of proteins
• Using your new knowledge you will be able to investigate a protein of choice regarding its structure and function as well as its cellular context.
• You will be able to relate chemical and physical properties of proteins to their function.

The module will revise and extend the study of protein architecture, interactions and enzyme function. During the module we explain common concepts using specific systems. The case studies include studies of membrane ion channels, enzymes such as proteases, a number of blood proteins including haemoglobin, and antibodies. We also describe how proteomics can be used to characterise and quantitate multiple proteins in parallel, using extremely sensitive analytical techniques, and how this information can be used to obtain clues about the biological roles of proteins.

Lectures, library project and computer questionnaires.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.