Physical Biochemistry
Code
7137
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Química
Credits
7.0
Teacher in charge
Isabel Maria Andrade Martins Galhardas de Moura
Weekly hours
7
Total hours
116
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
After the course it is expected that the students know the general principles of EPR and NMR spectroscopies: the theory concepts and their application to biological systems. The students should also understand the strategies and methods used for protein purification (salt precipitation, liquid chromatographies, gel electrophoresis). Basic concepts of mass spectrometry (electrospray,MALDI-TOF, MS/MS, LC/MC, GC/MS ) and their applications to protein characterization will also be lectured.
It is expected that the students apply the concepts developed in the lectures to the analysis of experimental results obtained in the laboratory classes and to problem solving.
Subject matter
Introduction to the general strategies and tactics of Biophysical Chemistry: characterization of biological molecules. Purification and separation techniques of protein purification: salt precipitation, liquid chromatography, gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry: general principles and definitions. Applications of mass spectrometry to protein characterization. Ionization techniques. Detection modes. Sample preparation. Correlation with other biophysical and analytical methods. Spectroscopic techniques applied to biological systems: EPR and NMR - theoretical concepts (Bloch equations and their implications, magnetic relaxation, chemical shifts, spin-spin coupling, chemical exchange). EPR spectroscopy: general principles, g-values, hyperfine interactions anisotropy. Similarity between EPR and NMR. Some case studies.
Bibliography
Spectroscopic Techniques in Biophysics, ed. G.M.Giacometti e G.Giacometti, IOS Press 2001 ISBN1586030361
Physical Biochemistry: Principles and Applications, ed.D.Sheehan, John Wiley & Sons Inc.,2000 ISBN 0471986623
Biochemical Methods, A.Pingoud, C.Urbanke, J.Hoggett, A.Jeltsch, Wiley Verlag GmbH, 2003, ISBN 3527302999
Teaching method
The course is organized in lectures, laboratory classes and workshops.
Evaluation method
The final evaluation is the result of a theoretical examination paper and a practical component that accounts for the laboratory work. The attendance to tall laboratory classes is compulsory.