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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Science : Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

521-203 Macromolecular Structure and Computational Molecular Biology

Note:

It is strongly recommended for those intending to enrol in 521-307 which will be offered for the first time in 1997.

Credit Points:

12.5

Coordinator:

Assoc. Professor G J Howlett and Dr P R Gooley

Prerequisite/s:

Physics 640-121 /122 or 640-141 /142, Chemistry 610-121 /122 or 610-141/142.

Timetable:

Semester 2

Contact:

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

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%) plus computer assignments including a written report (20%).

Prescribed Texts:

To be advised at time of enrolment.

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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Science : Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
Status:                   OFFICIAL 1997
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Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.