Protein Chemistry

Aim

The objective of the course is to provide comprehensive knowledge in the following areas: protein chemistry, protein engineering, structure and function relationships, physicochemical properties of proteins and methodologies for characterization of proteins. After studies well learned the student will have proficiency to:

• Identify structure motifs and from this draw conclusions regarding the structure and function of proteins.
• Search for information from various data bases to visualize protein structures and compare amino acid sequences.
• Draw conclusions about protein dynamics, structure and function from detailed chemical and physical properties.
• Comprehend the fundamental mechanisms of protein folding and to have a deeper understanding of the factors determining the stability of a protein.

Content

Studies of different structure motifs of proteins, membrane proteins, prediction, of protein structures. Studies of physico-chemical properties of proteins and methodology for studies of these properties: Chemical characteristics of polypeptides, protein engineering, physical interactions determining the properties of proteins, role of hydrophobic interaction, conformation flexibility, protein stability, mechanisms of protein folding, interaction with other proteins, enzyme catalysis.