BB807: Molecular Toxicology (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04004201

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.
2nd quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: klp@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
The curriculum from bachelor in biology or similar must be known.

Course introduction
The aim of the course is to explain, at the molecular level, why some chemicals are toxic to living organisms. We will study the most important processes and cellular structures that are attacked by man-made chemicals as well as the defence mechanisms that living organisms possess.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:

Describe the biochemical pathways leading to bioactivation of selected chemicals.
Predict the metabolic fate of chemicals from their molecular structure.
Describe the molecular mechanisms behind damages to membranes, enzymes and DNA caused by selected chemicals.
Discuss the relative importance and temporal succession of toxic events in the cell.
Describe the molecular mechanisms behind damages to cellular transport of compounds and energy production caused by selected chemicals.
Discuss organ-level effects based on events on the molecular level.
Describe the molecular mechanisms behind disruption of the endocrine system by selected chemicals.
Discuss the contribution of different endocrine disrupting mechanisms to observed effects.
Describe the defence systems that organisms possess against oxidative stress, metals and lipophilic compounds.
Discuss interactions between different defence systems and the consequences of suppression and activation of sub-systems.

Subject overview
Cellular transport of xenobiotics; selective accumulation and organ specific toxicity.
Bioactivation of compounds by the P450-system, especially carcinogens.
Oxidative stress, free radicals and lipid peroxidation of membranes.
Covalent binding of xenobiotics to biological macromolecules.
Nuclear receptor mediated toxicity with special emphasis on endocrine disrupting chemicals.
The cellular energy production as a target for xenobiotics.

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Syllabus
See syllabus.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
(a) Required assignments. Pass/fail, internal evaluation by teacher
(b) Lab. work. Pass/fail, internal evaluation by teacher.
(c) Written exam. Danish 7 mark scale, external examiner.

Reexamination after 4th quarter.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger, antal timer 20.
Eksaminatorietimer/opgaveregning, antal timer 15.
Laboratorieøvelser, antal timer 15.
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English, if international students participate. Otherwise the course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.