BB2020 Molecular Enzymology 7.5 credits

• Educational level

  Second cycle

• Academic level (A-D)

  D

• Subject area

  Biotechnology
  

• Grade scale

  A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• Homepage of the Course

• Course page on KTH Social

Learning outcomes

The course will give a fundamental understanding of enzyme function and will teach the methods that form the basis for enzyme characterisation.

Course main content

• Catalytic principles and reaction mechanisms of enzymes.
• Enzyme kinetics (steady-state and pre steady-state) and inhibition (reversible and irreversible). Transition-state inhibitor.
• Binding energy and catalysis. Practical methods in enzymology, for example for studies of enzyme kinetics and reaction mechanisms, detection of intermediates, active-site titration.
• Environmental effects on enzymes, for example pH, temperature, organic solvents.
• Protein engineering, aims and strategies.

The course has many practical steps as in depth planning of experiments, information search emphasized on structures. Each student has to present a study on one enzyme in a written and oral report. The course ends with a written take-home examination.

Eligibility

At least 150 credits from grades 1, 2 and 3 of which at least 100 credits from years 1 and 2, and bachelor's work must be completed.  The 150 credits should include a minimum of 20 credits within the fields of Mathematics, Numerical Analysis and Computer Sciences, 5 of these must be within the fields of Numerical Analysis and Computer Sciences, 20 credits of Chemistry, possibly including courses in Chemical Measuring Techniques and 20 credits of Biotechnology or Molecular Biology.

Prerequisites

KD1090 Organic chemistry 1, KD1100 Organic chemistry 2, BB1080/BB1090 Biochemistry or BB1050 Biotechnology for K.

Literature

Enzymes: A Practical Introduction to Structure, Mechanism, and data Analysis. Second edition. Robert A. Copeland. Wiley-VCH, ISBN 0-471-35929-7

Examination

• INL1 - Literature Task, 1.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
• LAB1 - Laborator Work, 1.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Requirements for final grade

Written take home examination (TEN1; 4,5 credits, grading scale A-F), Laboratory course (LAB1; 1,5 credits, grading scale Pass/Fail), Literature exercise (INL1; 1,5 credits, grading scale Pass/Fail).

Offered by

BIO/Biotechnology

Examiner

Pål Nyren <nyren@kth.se>

Supplementary information

Students are required to sign up at least two weeks in advance for examination.

The course is given provided at least seven students are admitted.

Version

Course plan valid from: Autumn 11.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 07.