Experimental Biophysics

physics

Dedicated to the students of Physics (Biophysics) and Application of Physics in Biology and medicine (Molecular biophysics), 2nd year of M. Sc. studies. Knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology on the level of licentiate and the first year of the studies for M. S.C. is required.

Classroom

Experimental, theoretical, and methodological, biophysical, foundations, of biopolymers are presented in a form of complete descriptions of key topics of contemporary molecular biophysics, supplemented by some selected applications in biotechnology and medicine. The lecture is mainly based on recent publications, which have appeared in scientific journals.

The main aim is to remined and present the advanced topics in molecular biophysics, which enable to understand the structural and dynamic, physical aspects of proteins, nucleic acids and lipids in biological processes. The programme covers key topics and notions of biophysics. as follows.

1. Biophysics in science and the key problems of MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS (1 lecture)

2. Chemical structure, metabolism, and biological role of nukleic acids, DNA and RNA, proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides (review and recapitulation; 3 lectures)

3. Electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions in stabilization structures of macromoleules and macromolecular complexes in solution (1 lecture)

4. Review of the advanced biophysical METHODS (1 lecture)

5. GENOMICS and DNA sequencing, chromosome structure, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, DNA repair systems, nanostructures (3 lectures)

6. PROTEOMICS, mass spectrometry, resolving protein structures by means of diffraction and NMR, macromolecular dynamics, interactome (6 lectures)

7. PROTEIN FOLDING: in vitro and in vivo mechanisms (theory and experiment), misfolding and aggregation (3 lectures)

8. RNA structures and folding, TRANSCRIPTOMICS, microarrays and expression profiles (2 lectures)

9. Biomolcular complexes: kinetics and dynamics of the association (1 lecture)

10. SPECIFIC INTERACTIONS of biopolymers in complexes, molecular motors, DRUG DESIGN (3 lectures)

11. BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES and BIOENERGETICS, electron and proton transfer (1 lecture)

12. Biopolymers in a living cel, in vivo NMR and in cel NMR

13. NMR IMAGING in medicine, MRI and fMRI, comparison with X-ray computer tomography and positron emission tomography.

14. Non conventional applications of molecular biophysics.

Student's effort:

Lecture = 60 h

Self-studying (2 h per week), ca. 30 h

Preparation to the examination: ca. 30 h

Total, ca. 120 h

Description by Ryszard Stolarski, August 2013.

1. W. Saenger „Principles of nucleic acid structures"

2. T.E. Creighton „Proteins. Structures and molecular properties"

3. I.N. Serdyuk, N.R. Zaccai i J. Zaccai „Methods in Molecular Biophysics”

4. References to scientific publications provided during the lectures

5. Text of the lecture and slides on:

http://www.biogeo.uw.edu.pl/Biofizyka_doswiadczalna/

After completion the course:

KNOWLEDGE

1. The student knows the basic and advanced biophysical ows and notions as well as topics of contemporary molecular biophysics.

2. The student knows the most important methods of experimental biophysics, especially those applied to provide data on structures and dynamics of biopolymers.

3. The student knows the basic applications of biophysics in biology and medicine.

SKILLS

1. The studen tis able to put together and explain molecular basis of biomolecular processes in terms of physics, chemistry and molecular biology.

2. The student is able to take advantage of a proper biophysical method to solve problems in biophysics, chemistry, and molecular biology.

SOCIAL ABILITIES

1. The student understands development of contemporary biophysics and understands the relating requirements to follow the bibliography of the topic.

2. The student appreciates the biophysical methodology and notions in bioscience.

3. The students recognizes ethics in scientific work.

Assessment criteria: oral examination in the form of open questions.

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