Biostructures Modelling

Code:

Q3009

Acronym:

Q3009

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2017/2018 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Chemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:Q	7	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The main objectives of this course are:
- To study the physical, chemical and biological properties of proteins and DNA.
- To know the principles of enzymatic catalysis.
- To use computational techniques to study the structure and function of proteins and DNA, and to be able to predict some relevant properties.

Learning outcomes and competences

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Describe the structure and properties of all amino acids included in natural proteins.
- Be familiar with the molecular structure of proteins and motifs 3D they adopt at each level of structural organization.
- Understand the basic principles of the catalytic action of enzymes and mechanisms of interaction with substrates.
- Describe the molecular structure of DNA and the basics of its replication.
- Understand some common interactions between DNA and proteins.

Working method

Presencial

Program

THEORETICAL CLASSES 1. Molecular interaction in biological systems. 2. Biomolecules- chemistry and structure. 3.From amino acids to Proteins. 4. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Structure of Proteins 5. Computational Visualization of proteins. 6. Enzymatic
Catalysis and Inhibition. 7. Nucleic Acids.

PRACTICAL CLASSES I. Introduction to Linux OS. II. Scientific information and data - PDB (protein databank) - research articles (Web of science) - Web tools to analyze pdb data and structures III. Basics of the visualization of molecules (software VMD) IV. Study and graphical visualization of Amino acids and Proteins V. Molecular Dynamics simulation of the interaction between an enzyme and substrate. (software: Amber ; VMD)

Mandatory literature

Buckberry Lorraine D.; Essentials of biological chemistry. ISBN: 9780471489061

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lessons complemented with computational sessions using specific software in Linux environment.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	50,00
Exame	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Estudo autónomo	30,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Terms of frequency: The students must attend at least 75% of the practical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation method: Final grade =50%PE + 50%EX
PE- Oral presentation of the practical works.
EX- Final Theoretical Exam

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with a special regime can do a single practical exam at the end of the semester to obtain the practical grade.

Classification improvement

Only the theoretical component of the classification can be improved by performing a note improvement examination.