Entry requirements

One of the following is required: (1) 120 credits with 60 credits in chemistry, including 20 credits in biochemistry, or (2) 120 credits with 30 credits in chemistry and 30 credits in biology, including 20 credits in biochemistry, or (3) 120 credits within the Master's Programme in Molecular Biotechnology Engineering, including Cell Biology, 15 credits, or (4) 120 credits within the Master's Programme in Chemical Engineering, including Physiology and Molecular Cell Biology and Development of Biologicals. Also required is 10 credits at Master's level. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain molecular recognition based on fundamental structural, mechanistic, kinetic and thermodynamic principles,
• explain common concepts used to describe molecular interactions, such as affinity, specificity, selectivity and avidity,
• compare how common biological, biochemical and biophysical methods for the study of molecular interactions work and argue for the choice of method based on what information they can provide,
• describe and analyse three-dimensional structures of complexes between biomacromolecules and other molecules, and use computer-based molecular graphics and AI-based modelling for this,
• discuss biologically relevant aspects of the interactions between macromolecules and other macromolecules/ligands,
• summarize and describe principles and applications for diagnostic purposes of a current method based on molecular recognition.

Content

Molecular interaction mechanisms and forces between molecules: affinity, selectivity, multivalency, avidity, kinetics and thermodynamics. Various types of biomolecular interactions: protein­-ligand, protein­-protein, DNA/RNA-­protein. The effect of the environment on interactions. Cell-based, biological, biochemical and biophysical methods for the identification and characterization of molecular interactions.Bioinformatics of protein-protein interactions. Analysis of interactions with structure information. AI-based modelling of biomolecule complexes. Modification of proteins and nucleic acids to alter their interactions with other macromolecules or ligands. Inhibition of interactions. Application of molecular interaction analysis in life science research, drug discovery and diagnostics. Examples of how biological systems can be described in terms of the molecular interactions involved.

Instruction

Lectures, tutorials, laboratory work and projects. Tutorials, laboratory work and projects are compulsory.

Assessment

A written examination is organised at the end of the course (7,5). Laboratory work, exercises and projects examined during the course (7,5 credits). 

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

Other regulations

The course can not be included in higher education qualification together with 1KB454 Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems, 15 cr.