BMB501: Biomolecular Chemistry (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01000101

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.
Third quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: f.kir@bmb.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
ebp@ifk.sdu.dk

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

Revison of timetable:
: Forelæsning torsdag d. 4 marts (uge 9)aflyst pga. Valg undervejs og erstattet af enten Onsdag d. 3 kl. 14-16 i U45 eller Fredag d. 5 kl. 08-10 i U1.
: Skemaændringer hold S4 og S6 på grund af Valg undervejs d. 04032010

Comment:
Øvelsesvejledningen for laboratorieøvelserne kan findes på Blackboard.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students should be familiar with KE501 – Fundamental chemistry and BB501 – Biology from molecule to ecosystem or BB508 – Animal and plant biology. Students that have passed BM102 cannot follow BMB501.

Course introduction
The aim of the course is to give the student an understanding of biomolecules in both chemical and biological contexts by

• Introducing the central types of biological macromolecules: proteins, nucleic acids carbohydrates and lipids.
• Demonstrating that fundamental organic chemistry defines the structure and thereby the function of these biological macromolecules.
• Illustrating that the function of biological macromolecules is normally of fundamental organic chemical nature.

Qualifications
• Ability to assess the significance of fundamental chemical properties on biomolecular structure. • Understanding of the connection between biomolecular structure and function. • Knowledge of chemical synthesis of biomolecules and the chemical reactions of biomolecules. • Fundamental skills in a biochemistry laboratory; incl. handling of microlitre volumes, reproduction of experiments and conducting experiments base on a written instructions.

Expected learning outcome
The student is expected to be able to do the following when the theoretical part of the coursed is passed:

Name and outline mechanisms for the non-covalent forces that operate on biomolecules
Discuss the four structure levels of proteins
Explain the significance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic forces for the structure of biomolecules and give examples thereof.
Explain the significance of steric effects for the structure of biomolecules and give examples thereof.
Outline and exemplify the relation between structure and function of biomolecules
Recognise the functional groups in carbohydrates, nucleic acids, peptides/proteins and lipids.
Recognize heterocyclic rings.
Sketch the common chemical reactions for the above mentioned functional groups and heterocyclic rings.
Be familiar with the principles in chemical syntheses of nucleic acids and peptides.
Use nomenclature from stereochemistry on biomolecules.
Sketch biomolecules and heterocyclic rings at various pH values.

The student is expected to be able to do the following when the laboratory part of the coursed is passed:

Handle adjustable micro pipettes in a reproducible manner
Make dilution series and measure these spectrophotometrically
Have knowledge about gel electrophoresis
Outline the principles in spectrophotometrical measurements, and be familiar with the use of a spectrophotometer in studies of biochemical reactions.
Carry out an enzymatic synthesis.
Have knowledge about measuring optical purity of a chemical substance.

Subject overview
1. Carbohydrates:
• Monosaccharides and their stereochemistry
• Disaccharides
• Polysaccharides and their biological differences.

2. Nucleic acids:
• Nucleosides and heterocyclic chemistry, including tautomerisation
• Nucleotides
• Oligonucleotides and their synthesis
• DNA/RNA structure

3. Peptider:
• Amino acids and their organic chemistry
• Peptides; their synthesis and structural properties
• Protein structure and function.
• Protein-nucleic acid recognition

4. Lipids:
• Structure
• Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties
• Lipids and proteins in membranes

Literature

• Kirpekar & Pedersen: Biomolecular chemistry, , 2nd Ed., Pearson 2006. kan købes i Studenterboghandelen.

Syllabus
See syllabus.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
(a) Approved laboratory results, fail/pass, internal assessment by instructor. The lab exercises constitute 1 ECTS of the total 5 ECTS of the course.
(b) 4-hour written examination with all written aids and pocket calculator. External examiner. Grades according to the Danish 7-point scale.
(c) Exam after conclusion of the course and reexamination after the 4th quarter.

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

Forelæsninger (24 timer), eksaminatorier (12 timer) og obligatorisk laboratorieøvelser (12 timer).
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.