Synthesis of Bioproducts

Code:

Q4082

Acronym:

Q4082

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=819
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Applications in Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:ABBS	19	The study plan from 2019/20	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students
Obs.: Aulas em Português, com material de apoio em inglês (Lectures in Portuguese, with supporting materials in English)

Objectives

The course “Synthesis of Bioproducts” will focus on major chemical strategies towards the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules, mainly peptides, oligonucleotides, and peptide-nucleic acids (PNA), and mimetic analogues thereof. State-of-the-art solution- and solid-phase, including combinatorial, approaches will be addressed, as well as chemoselective strategies for the production of bioconjugates. Different areas of application of the synthetic strategies addressed will be equally presented.

A hybrid teaching model will be applied, combining (i) lectures to introduce the fundamental concepts and reaction mechanisms relevant for each topic, and present selected case-studies (presential or e-learning) and (ii) experimental projects (in the laboratory) aimed at the chemical syntheis of a given target bioproduct (problem-based "hands-on" learning).

Learning outcomes and competences

The main goal of this course is to convey advanced training in chemical methods for the production of biomolecules and derivatives/analogues thereof. As such, students will become competent, at both the theoretical end experimental levels, on major concepts and applications of major synthetic strategies to obtain bioproducts of high added value and/or with significant scientific-technological impact. In this connection, the programme will cover classical lessons on the fundamentals of synthetic methodologies used to produce diverse molecules of natural origin, in connection with invited lectures and "paper clubs" devoted to the analysis of case studies involving one or several of the strategies to be addressed. In parallel, students will also carry out small experimental projects targeted at the synthesis of a given bioproduct, so they can prime manipulation skills and get advanced training in the production of biomolecules by chemical methods.

Working method

B-learning

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Background formation in Organic/Bioorganic/Biological Chemistry at a basic level (Bachelor degree) is strongly advised.

Program

1. Organic synthesis – basic concepts and applications


2. Relevance of chemical methods to produce biomolecules


3. Chemical synthesis of small biomolecules (oligopeptides, oligonucleotides and peptide-nucleic acids)


4. Brief overview of combinatorial synthesis and its applications


5. Chemoselective conjugation reactions ("click" chemistry)


6. Advanced topics in the synthesis of biomolecules (case studies)

Mandatory literature

Paul Lloyd-Williams, Fernando Albericio, Ernest Giralt; Chemical Approaches to the Synthesis of Peptides and Proteins, CRC Press, 1997. ISBN: 0-8493-9142-3 (One of the lecturers as a personal copy to lend)

Complementary Bibliography

David L. Van Vranken; Introduction to bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4214-4 (To be requested directly from the lecturers)
N. Leo Benoiton; Chemistry of Peptide Synthesis, Taylor and Francis, 2006. ISBN: 978-1-57444-454-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Lectures:

(a) Presentation of the course syllabus in the classroom;

(b) Invited lectures/case studies, addressing specific case studies involving several of the methodologies covered by the syllabus.

- Lab classes: Infrastructural and instrumental resources of DQB-FCUP will be used to carry out different experimental projects involving chemical synthesis, purification and analysis of bioproducts.

Type of Evaluation: distributed without final exam

Evaluation will take into account two major components:

- WRITTEN TEST (50%), on the subjects thaught within scope of chapter 3 (see previous field);

- LAB TEAM WORK (50%), covering evaluation of the laboratorial performance and written report on a small experimental project to be carried out by each team of students;

The Moodle UP platform will be used for course management.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Organic chemistry
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Applied chemistry > Pharmaceutical chemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Teste	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	20,00
Estudo autónomo	97,00
Frequência das aulas	21,00
Trabalho escrito	3,00
Trabalho laboratorial	21,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must attend at least 75% of the hours assigned for live training (laboratory activities and invited lectures), and present the following:

- individual written test, to be timely scheduled during the 1st semester;

- performance and written reports on the experimental projects carried out in the laboratory component of this course (team work).

Calculation formula of final grade

FG = 0,5 x WT + 0,5 x EW, where

FG, final grade
WT, grade of the Written Test (individual)
EW, evaluation of the Experimental Work and respective written report (group)

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Rules according to the institution's statutes will be applied.

Classification improvement

Not applicable.

Observations

Students who do not attend at least 75% of the lab classes and of the invited lectures will not be approved to this course.

To each relevant element for evaluation that is not delivered or not attended, a zero mark will be attributed.

Approval will be given only to those students whose final grade (FG), as defined by the algorithm given above, is equal or superior to 9.5.

This is a course with a distributed evaluation without final exam. As such, resit or improvement examinations are not applicable.