230004 Biological Chemistry

Details
Department of Natural Sciences
Earliest Possible Year
DurationOne block
 
Credits15 (ECTS)
Course LevelMSc
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination and oral examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: The project reports, performed in groups, will be presented individually using oral presentation followed by oral examination based on the report and presentation performed

Weight: The project report is judged by 60 % and the oral examination is judged by 40 %



13-point scale, internal examiner
 
Requirement For Attending ExamAcceptance of reports of initial exercises
 
Organisation of TeachingThe course consists of experimental research work based on actual biological issues (approx. 18 h/week) combined with a theoretical part (lectures, colloquy, and theoretical exercises; approx. 6 h/week). Visit to companies using bioprocessing technologies.
 
Block PlacementBlock 4
Week Structure: Outside schedule
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
may be conducted in Danish
 
Optional Prerequisites230006 Enzymology and Experimental Biochemistry
Enzymology and experimental biochemistry
 
RestrictionsThe number of students per course is limited to 30 owing to limited space in the laboratories and the need for intensive teaching in the required research techniques and advanced instrumentations
 
Areas of Competence the Course Will Address
Basic Science
Comprehends basic principles required for research studies on bioactive natural products, lipids, dietary fibres, proteins, peptides, enzymes and their inhibitors
Transfer the hypothesis through mathematical/statistical description to results, which can be statistical and experimental tested
Understanding the theory behind methods in biochemistry with changes in properties of analytes dissolved in water as function of ions, organic molecules and surfactants.
Evaluate the detection and quantification of experimental data in relation to published values.
Applied Science
Expand the knowledge to experimental work with more complex systems as starting materials.
Knowledge to development of strategy in analytical biological chemistry
Ethics and Values
Respond and reflects on environmental related problems in experimental biochemistry.
Is aware of environmental, health, and disease risks related to bioactive biomolecules and products produced
 
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is to give the students a thorough and fundamental basis for performance of experimental research work in borderline between chemistry, biochemistry, biology and biotechnology. This includes a good understanding of the theory behind the applied methods and technologies, use of original literature and the ability to transfer ideas from traditional methods and technologies to new and optimal strategies of experimental procedures.
 
Course Contents
The course focus on understanding of the relations between structure and properties of the molecules under consideration, especially biomolecules, which can be macromolecules and/or low molecular weight compounds. Preparative methods usable to isolation of actual native molecules from various types of starting materials and complex matrix systems, which can be vegetable-, animal- , microbial, feed- and food systems. Strategies and sequences in the procedures required depend on properties of the compounds of interest, the matrix systems and available methods as will be discussed and illustrated in this course. In some cases, the starting point or part of the course can be de novo synthesis e.g. synthesis of peptides. A great part of the work in this course will be devoted to investigation of bioactive molecules, including enzymes and their effectors, which give a need for development and use of bioassay. Following isolation of the actual molecules, the special important part of the projects in this course will be characterisation, identification, and determination of physico-chemical-bioactive properties of the molecules. In collaborative work (few students per group), the students will use basic and applied research method in the studies of compounds which can be:
. Lipids, oils, lipid soluble vitamins, antioxidants, phytosterols, amphiphilics as phosphor- and glycolipids in membranes.
. Carbohydrates including dietary fibres (plant cell walls) and dietary fibre associated compounds
. Bioactive peptides, proteins, enzymes and glycoproteins, and cofactors important for their function
. Bioactive natural products and low molecular weight compounds.

The course will give the students basic knowledge to:
. Quality assurance
. Planning and designing of experimental work
. Relevant selection of methods and strategies
. Evaluation and interpretation of produced data and results in relation to literature informations
. Description of obtained results in reports or papers following scientific rules
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
Lectures and theoretical exercises: lectures and colloquy will be used to present the theoretical background for the subjects considered and to follow the progress in the study program and experimental work. The lectures and colloquy will be followed by theoretical exercises where the students in groups of three will work on evaluation of the descriptions in original literature, on answers to specific questions related to the theory and to the practical application and use of methods and technologies. Laboratory work aiming at learning the students knowledge to transfer of theory to practical use of the various instruments, biochemical methods, and technologies are central parts of the course. The students will, in groups of three, spend about 18 h per week working with selected research projects. The project will be chosen among a selection of subjects, and agreed on by the students and the teacher. The combined theoretical and practical laboratory experiments with focus on strategies of actual technologies will train the students in calculation and evaluation of produced data, statistical analyses of obtained results, quality assurance and reporting with evaluation of processing effects on product quality based on own data in relation to literature data
 
Course Litterature
Depending on the research projects in the course, relevant new and original literature, scientific papers and monographs will be selected.

Examples of supplementary literature can be:
B.W.Wenclawiak, M.Koch, W.Hadjicostas (Eds) (2004: Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry. Training and Teachning. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg. ISBN 3-540-40578-X.
L.Buckberry and T.Tessdale (2001: Essentials of Biological Chemistry (udvalgte afsnit). John Wiley & Sons Ltd. West Sussex, UK. ISBS 0-471-48906-9.
H.Sørensen, S.Sørensen, C.Bjergegaard, S.Michaelsen (1999): Chromatography and Capillary Electrophoresis in Food Analysis. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK. ISBN 0-85404-561-9.
G.Walsh (2002): Proteins, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. West Sussex, UK. ISBN 0-471-899070
D.Voet & J.G.Voet (2004): Biochemistry, John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0-471-39223-5
 
Course Coordinator
Keld Ejdrup Andersen, kea@life.ku.dk, Department of Natural Sciences/Biochemistry & Natural Product Chemistry, Phone: 35332461
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures30
theoretical exercises30
practicals180
preparation160
Excursions10
examination2

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