Biology 310 - Structural Biology

(Offered as BIOL 310 and BCBP 310) Have you ever wondered how scientists determine the three dimensional structure of proteins? Or what can be learned about the function of a protein from its structure? This course will concentrate on the structure of proteins at the atomic level. It will include an introduction to methods of structure determination, to structural bioinformatics, and to the visualization and representation of structural data. These tools will be used to study the relationship between function and specific structures (such as membrane, nucleic acid binding, regulatory, structural, or metabolic proteins). These proteins will provide the framework for the discussion of such concepts as domains, motifs, molecular motion, and structural homology, as well as for addressing how specific biological questions are answered at the atomic level. Two 80-minute classroom hours per week plus one hour discussion.

Requisite: BIOL 191 and CHEM 151 or 155, and CHEM 161; CHEM 221 would be helpful but is not required. Limited to 18 students. Spring semester. Visiting Assistant Professor Henderson-Stull.