Metabolic and Cellular Engineering

Code:

EBE0198

Acronym:

EMC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Bioprocess Engineering
OFICIAL	Biological Engineering

Instance: 2016/2017 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Bioengineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIB	17	Syllabus	5	-	6	70	162
MIEQ	1	Syllabus	5	-	6	70	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To provide the students with the skills needed for the quantification of metabolic fluxes and the use of informatic tools for the analysis and simulations of metabolic processes.

Learning outcomes and competences

-To understand the importance of metabolic engineering in modern bioengineering
-To know the main mathematical models for the analysis of metabolic and celular systems
-To develop skills in the biomathematics analysis of metabolic networks
-To develop skills in the biomathematical analysis of metabolic fluxes
-To acquire knowledge and develop skills in the use of databases in metabolic engineering

Working method

Presencial

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

n.a.

Program

 

1.Presentation of concepts:
-Metabolic engineering; Omics; System Biology; Synthetic Biology, Epigenetics, metagenomics
-Fundamental aspects of mathematical simulation in biology

2. Strategic approaches in metabolic engineering:
-Physiological studies, selection of appropriate methods for genetic modification; inverse metabolic engineering
-Biochemical systems theory
-Metabolic control analysis
-Metabolic flux analysis and metabolic network analysis
-Analysis of metabolic pathway - elementary flux modes and extreme pathways
-Analytical methods for metabolic engineering (microarray technology, GC-MS, 13C-NMR and 31P, etc.)

3. Databases in biotechnology (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.)

4. Emerging applications of metabolic engineering (updated every scholar years).
 
5. Practical component - Bioinformatics:
-Introduction to bioinformatics
-Generation of the metabolic stoichiometric matrix and metabolic flux calculation
-Use of databases in biotechnology (data mining) and computational tools for metabolic engineering
-Structural and functional bioinformatics
-Quantitative prediction of cellular metabolism with constraint-based models

-Software tools for optimization in metabolic engineering

Mandatory literature

Eberhard Voit ; A First Course in Systems Biology, Garland Science, 2012. ISBN: 9780815344674
Stephanopoulos G N, Aristidou A A, Nielsen J; Metabolic engineering: principles and methodologies. , Academic Press, 1998
Torres N V, Voit E O; Pathway analysis and optimization in metabolic engineering, Cambridge University Press, 2002

Complementary Bibliography

S. Cortassa, M.A. Aon, A. A. Iglesias,... [et al.]; An introduction to metabolic and cellular engineering. ISBN: 978-981-4365-72-7

Comments from the literature

n.a.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Formal exposition of the theoretical and practical elements, using video projector and online material accessible via the Internet. Development of tutorial examples and problem solving with the use of appropriate software.

 

Software

Matlab
Microsoft Windows Server Standard
Adobe

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	80,00
Frequência das aulas	70,00
Trabalho de investigação	11,00
Total:	161,00

Eligibility for exams

n.a.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade will be calculated according to the following components:
Final exam (50% in the final classification);
Oral presentation of two emerging themes in metabolic and cellular engineering (25% in the final classification);
Group presentation on bioinformatics (25% in the final classification).

Recurso exam.

To obtain positive rating, the student must obtain a minimum overall rating of 9.5.

Examinations or Special Assignments

n.a.

Internship work/project

n.a.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

These situations do not preclude the completion of the works proposed. These have to be performed at the same time limit established for regular students. The form of assessment is therefore the same for all students.

Classification improvement

Recurso exam.

Observations

n.a.