Enzymes: Structure, Function

Catalog description

Topics for discussion include enzyme catalytic mechanisms, allostery, design of active-site probes, enzyme engineering, structure determination, and the influence of solvent water on enzyme activity. Readings are keyed to experimental techniques, extracted from textbooks and from the primary literature. The course is intended to provide graduate students and upper level undergraduate students with an understanding of the principles of biocatalysis, an appreciation for the catalytic power of enzymes, as well as an awareness of the growing importance of enzymes in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Recommended textbook: Structure and Mechanism in Protein Science: A Guide to Enzyme Catalysis and Protein Folding, by Alan Fersht.