521-301 Protein Structure, Design and Engineering

Credit Points:

When taken from Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science:

10.0

When taken from Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture:

8

Coordinator:

Prerequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

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

• an understanding of the general properties of proteins which determine the relationships between protein structure, function and stability;

• an understanding of how protein design and engineering can be used for investigating structure-function relationships;

• a theoretical background to the major techniques used in modern protein chemistry and an appreciation of their applications in biotechnology.

Content:

Separative and analytical techniques in protein chemistry. Evolution of sequence and function. Structure and function of immunoglobulins, T cell receptors and antigen presentation. Vaccines, monoclonal and recombinant antibodies and immunodiagnostic applications. Protein design and engineering; chemical synthesis of engineered proteins; the importance of molecular graphics; effects of point mutations on tertiary structure and biological function; protein design for biotechnology, with major examples including enzymes and immunological reagents particularly chimeric antibodies and immunotoxins. Analysis of protein conformation; determinants of protein folding; sequence algorithms for structural prediction, circular dichroism, fluorescence and difference spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance. Analytical and preparative ultracentrifugation. Binding of small molecular weight molecules to proteins and drug design; cooperative interactions and their significance. Protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Enzymes: reaction kinetics, one and two substrate reactions, multienzyme complexes, genetically engineered enzymes, immobilised enzymes and their applications in industry.

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

• Branden C and Tooze J, Introduction to Protein Structure, 1991, Garland.