Biochemistry: Experimental Biochemistry

Catalog description

Students majoring in life sciences and bioengineering require hands-on experience with variety of biotechnology techniques to better prepare them for a graduate degree or industry. Students will be trained to master biochemical techniques for the manipulate of macromolecules and build a firm understanding of how research is conducted in postgraduate institutions. Inquiry based learning will drive students to learn biophysical tools for the characterization of proteins' structures and functions. Discussions on fundamental biochemical principles and experimental techniques will assist the students to design and conduct a research project. Students in groups of two will propose a project, run experiments, present data to their peers, and write a final report. First, a protein will be expressed in E. coli, purified using column chromatography on a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) system. Analysis will include kinetic and enzyme mechanistic characterization, structural characterization using circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermodynamic stability using Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).