Advances in Biochemistry

Catalog description

The course will develop a detailed molecular view of the building blocks of biological systems and a brief review of the structural and functional properties of these biomolecules. The course also will cover modern methods of biomolecule synthesis, purification, and modification. Subject matter will be approached using case studies highlighting techniques that allow us to gain a chemical understanding of biological processes. Examples include identification of drug binding sites, probing protein-protein interactions, targeting protein degradation, and modulating transcription. Important advances in our understanding of biological systems brought about by these techniques will also be discussed. Discussion of primary literature readings will include benefits/drawbacks of the various techniques, complementarity of methods, and the applicability of various aspects of chemical biology to dissect new problems.