- Department: Chemistry
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
This module will survey contemporary research at the interface between chemistry and biology – using both organic and inorganic chemical methods to ask and answer questions about biological systems.
Pre-requisite modules
Co-requisite modules
- None
Prohibited combinations
- None
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
This module will survey contemporary research at the interface between chemistry and biology – using both organic and inorganic chemical methods to ask and answer questions about biological systems. The module will provide an overview of how chemists can hijack biological systems using bioorthogonal chemical tools, focussing on both the mechanisms of synthetic organic and enzymatic transformations, and how we can model the high efficiency of enzymes – in particular focussing on ‘difficult’ reactions. The course will also demonstrate how biology can be subverted through new biomedical approaches, whilst also acting as a source of inspiration for the evolution of bio-transformations and the development ‘greener’ chemical materials based on renewable, biologically compatible resources.
Part I: Bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology
Part II: Bioinorganic chemistry
Part (i): Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Bioorthogonal bioconjugation reactions (3 lectures, MAF)
Unnatural amino acid mutagenesis. Organic mechanisms of ‘click’ reactions using azides, alkynes and alkenes, including CuAAC and tetrazine ligation, and aldehyde bioconjugations.
Hijacking the cell’s metabolic machinery with chemical tools (3 lectures, LIW)
Principles of feeding cells with modified biomolecules for cellular studies of these biomolecules using bioorthogonal chemistry, and metabolic inhibition of biosynthetic pathways.
Evolving biomolecules (4 lectures, CS)
Principles of directed evolution, the design and use of artificial enzymes, Phage display and related techniques along with chemical strategies to improve biomolecule evolution.
Genome editing (2 lectures, MAF)
Principles of gene editing methods including CRISPR-Cas9 and their application in modulation of phenotypes in vivo.
Virtual “walk-through” answer session for practice open book exam question (1h, MAF)
Part (ii): Bioinorganic Chemistry
Bioinorganic Model Complexes I (5 lectures, PHW)
Principles of inorganic models; reasons for models. Models of haemoglobin and myoglobin. Other O2-transport proteins: haemocyanin, haemerthyrin. Copper oxidases for cellulose degradation.
Bioinorganic Model Complexes II (6 lectures, AKDK)
Bioinorganic Organometallic Chemistry. Artificial metalloenzymes.
Molybdenum and Iron enzymes (5 lectures, AP)
Examples of mononuclear Mo/W enzymes, incl nitrate reductase, aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase. Hydrogenases (how biology handles hydrogen). Models of nitrogenase.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
None
Online open book 2 hour exam consisting of 2 x 20 mark questions. To be submitted via the VLE within the 24h assessment window.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
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 or VLE when the students receive their marks, so that they can assess their own detailed progress/achievement.
This is a research-led course so up-to-date scientific publications will form the majority of the reading