Many applications in modern chemistry and biochemistry depend on the ability to make, change and analyze proteins. After completion of the course, students will be familiar with all of the steps required for the production of proteins in bacteria, protein structural features and techniques for making, modifying (including the site-specific introduction of non-natural amino acids), and analyzing proteins. There is an emphasis on biophysical techniques to characterize biomolecules (e.g., SDS-PAGE, light scattering, circular dichroism spectroscopy, ultracentrifugation, mass spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance), including discussion of their physical basis. Advanced structural analysis techniques (X-ray crystallograhy, NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, solution scattering) are also discussed. An introduction to bioinformatics, i.e. protein sequence alignment, 3D structure analysis and modelling is also included.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the necessary elements of protein over-expression systems in bacteria,
2. Make and purify proteins,
3. Understand elements of peptide and protein structure and function,
4. Understand techniques for modifying proteins,
5. Demonstrate familiarity with basic techniques for protein analysis,
6. Understand advanced biophysical techniques for protein analysis, including the capacity to discuss their relative merits and interpret data from those techniques,
7. Demonstrate familiarity with software for protein visualization, sequence alignment and modelling.