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The course examines a range of advanced topics in biochemistry highlighting the link between basic and translational sciences. You will gain an appreciation of the current state of knowledge of fundamental molecular mechanisms in intact cells, specifically:

• pathways that are implicated in human disease and areas of biotechnology;
• how molecular pathways can be manipulated through genetic engineering for academic, translational-based research and large-scale industrial applications;
• experimental strategies exploring molecular biology, biochemistry and structural biology techniques taken from current research;

You will have lectures and will be provided specific reading lists of references to help develop an understanding of molecular mechanisms. The material covered in lectures will be drawn from the latest cutting-edge research, and specific topics that will be explored include: cellular homeostasis, protein biosynthesis and quality control; cellular respiration and metabolism, human conformational diseases, single-molecule studies of nucleic acids, prokaryotic signalling, biofuel production from algae and cyanobacteria, metabolism in the environment, drug discovery.

Through coursework and workshops you will develop critical reasoning and analytical skills to evaluate research papers effectively, and present scientific information to specialist and general audiences. Through independent learning and group activities, you will learn skills in developing and presenting a scientific research proposal / entrepreneurial idea based upon material covered in lectures.

Indicative Lecture List for 22/23:

Theme 1: Proteostasis & Human Disease

Examines fundamental principles of how proteins are synthesised and acquire structure in the cell the role of proteostasis, the consequences of misfolding in human disease, and applied approaches towards translational science.

• Introduction to proteostasis and human conformational diseases
• Structural biology of protein folding and misfolding during biosynthesis
• Quantitative biophysical studies (including mass spectrometry, fluorescence) of protein conformational change, misfolding and aggregation

Theme 2: Engineering Genetic Processes

Examines principles of the genome and also the ways in which it can be modified, to understand the transfer of genetic information and how it can be used to solve biotechnology problems in industry.

• Single-molecule approaches for genome biology
• DNA topology in disease
• Algae as a novel biofuel
• Engineering new designer biofuels and bioreactors for industry

Theme 3: Manipulating Energetic Processes within the Cell

Examines principles of cellular respiration, metabolism, and signalling and their application in human disease and the environmental sciences.

• Structural and biophysical studies of cellular respiration
• Cell signalling and chemotaxis
• Principles of metabolism in the environment

Theme 4: Concepts in Translational Science

Examines how principles derived from the basic sciences shapes drug discovery and how new therapeutics can be developed.

• Drug discovery processes including screening and drug development
• Hit-to-lead development and structure-activity relationships
• The importance of understanding molecular mechanisms

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