Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 170)
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521-203 Macromolecular Structure and Computational Molecular Biology

Note: This unit will be offered for the first time in 1996. It will be a prerequisite for 521-307 (Three Dimensional Structure and Conformational Dynamics of Biological Macromolecules) which will be offered for the first time in 1997.

Credit points: 11.0

Coordinator: Associate Professor G J Howlett

Prerequisite: Physics 640-120 or 640-140, Chemistry 610-121/122 or 610-141/142

Contact: 26 lectures (two a week); 26 hours of computer workshops and tutorials (one 2-hour session each week)

Timetable: Second semester

Objectives:

By the end of the program the student should have acquired:

• Knowledge of the fundamental areas of protein and nucleic acid structure and function, and computational molecular biology necessary for those who wish to continue studies in relevant areas of Biophysics;
• An overview of the theory of methodologies for the determination and computational analysis of macromolecular structures;
• An appreciation of the Human Genome Project and its impact on the developing field of Bioinformatics;
• Basic practical skills in the use of personal computers and molecular graphics software for the analysis and modelling of protein and nucleic acid structures, derived from relevant sequence data bases.

Content:

Overview of protein and nucleic acid structure and function. Sequence determination of proteins and nucleic acids. New technologies and strategies involved in the Human Genome Project. Solution properties of macromolecules including their hydrodynamic behaviour and sedimentation in the ultracentrifuge. Computational molecular biology: protein sequence alignments and comparisons, the basis of algorithms for predicting protein structure, functional motif consensus sequences, energy minimisation of peptide structures, protein-solvent and protein-ligand interactions, DNA-protein interactions. Computer workshops on Bioinformatics and the use of molecular graphics for analysing and modelling protein and nucleic acid structures.

Assessment:

A 2-hour end of semester written examination (80 per cent) plus a computer assignment including a written report (20 per cent).

Prescribed texts:

• To be advised at time of enrolment

Biochemistry subject : Next:521-301 | Prev:521-202 | Search | Help
Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 170)

Status:          Official 1996
Date created:    Oct  9 1995
Last modified:   Oct  9 1995
Authorised by:   Academic Registrar
Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au

Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.