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Academic Year 2003/2004

Biological Thermodynamics
CHEM 386 FA
Crosslistings:
MB&B 386

This course is addressed to undergraduate and graduate students interested in biological chemistry and structural biology. The course presents thermodynamic methods currently used to relate structure to function in biological molecules. Topics include: binding curves, chemical ligand linkages, binding polynomial, cooperativity, site-specific binding processes and allosteric effects. Several models for allosteric systems, such as the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model, the induced-fit model and the Pauling model are analyzed in detail. Applications of these models are illustrated for functional regulation of respiratory proteins and for protein-nucleic acid complexes involved in control of gene expression.

MAJOR READINGS

Wyman & Gill, BINDING AND LINKAGE: FUNCTIONAL CHEMISTRY OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES, University Science Books, 1990.
DeCera, THERMODYNAMIC THEORY OF SITE-SPECIFIC BINDING PROCESSES IN BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES, Cambridge University Press, 1995.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One midterm exam; a final exam.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: (MATH122 AND MATH122 AND CHEM381) OR (MATH121 AND MATH122 AND MB&B381) Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004

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