- Department: Chemistry
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
A module that first introduces the techniques used in academia and industry to study the interactions of small molecules such as drugs with target proteins and then unveils the emerging field of chemical biology - the use of small molecules to study cellular biology. This is a key area where chemists are now able to make biological breakthroughs leading to new insights and new medicines. We will also look at synthetic biology - reprogramming nature to devise new biological species.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23 |
This module will survey contemporary research in the area of Chemical Biology – using chemical methods to ask questions about biological systems.
Chemical and Synthetic Biology. Physical Organic Chemistry: Use of TAFT, Hammett plots and kinetic isotope effects to study enzyme action and inspire the design of enzyme inhibitors (GJD 1 & 2). The concept of using rationally-designed inhibitors in living systems – Chemical Genetics - will be introduced (GJD 3). The concept of bio-orthogonal chemistry in living systems, in vivo copper-free click chemistry using strained alkynes (GJD 4). Activity-based protein profiling (GJD 5) and the use of bump-and-hole strategies to define kinase/target pairs (GJD 6). And an introduction to the new area of synthetic biology in which cells are redesigned to accommodate non-natural amino-acids and bio-orthogonal chemistries (GJD 7).
There will be a 1 x 3h graphics workshop – X-ray structures - learning how to look at protein structure and protein-ligand interactions (not assessed, but examinable) |
GJD (7 lectures) MAF (2 lectures)
LIW (3 lectures) CDS (4 lectures)
JA (1 workshop)
|
The final workshop will cover the selection of topics / papers / coordinate files for the assessed workshop. |
JA 1×3h workshop preparation for assessment
|
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 30 |
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 70 |
None
The online exam (based on a 1.5-hour paper delivered over 4.25 hours) has two compulsory 20-mark questions.
The second workshop is assessed through a project report of 4-5 pages based around a specific paper (and wider related reading) and analysis of the structure(s) on computer graphics. Each student is given a protein(s) and some papers from which they generate a short summary of an area of chemical biology research (3hr workshop; approx. 12-20 hours private study required). The deadline for handing in work is 2 weeks after the assessed workshop.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 30 |
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 70 |
Exam results with per-question breakdown are returned to the students via supervisors within 5 weeks (as per special approval by the University Teaching Committee). Outline answers are made available via the Chemistry web pages when the students receive their marks, so that they can assess their own detailed progress/achievement. The examiners’ reports for each question are made available to the students via the Chemistry web pages.
For the continuous assessment, the students receive an annotated mark sheet, with each of the individual sections commented upon individually. Marks are awarded for: Quality of introduction (20%); Quality of images (15%); Relevance of images (15%); Description of what the images show (15%); Summary of experimental strategy including (as appropriate) chemical synthesis, molecular interaction techniques, thermodynamics (35%)
This is a research-led course so up to date scientific publications will form the majority of the reading