ELEMENTS OF BIOPHYSICS
cod. 1000046

Academic year 2012/13
3° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Fisica applicata (a beni culturali, ambientali, biologia e medicina) (FIS/07)
Field
Attività formative affini o integrative
Type of training activity
Related/supplementary
48 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub:
course unit
in - - -

Learning objectives

This course is intended to give an overview on the modern molecular biophysics.
The aim of this course is to introduce in a qualitative manner, modern spectroscopic techniques and show selected applications to relevant current topics. It is intended to also show how physical methods can become extremely valuable tools for understanding biological processes.

The selection of topics is intended to guide students to make a more thoughtful choice for their future studies, possibly in Biophysics. It is also intended to give students in Biological Sciences an overview on the modern experimental methods that are available to tackle very complex biological problems.

Prerequisites

basics of calculus, classical physics and chemistry

Course unit content

A modern vision of biophysics
Living systems and order generation
Free energy transduction
Diffusion and dissipation

Random Walk, friction, and diffusion
Diffusion of molecular species within cells

The structure of proteins
Function and strcucture of proteins
Determiantion of protein structure
Protein folding and energy landscape
Spectroscopic methods for the study of protein folding

Function of proteins: protein-ligand interactions
Allostery
Relations between function, structure, and dynamics
Energy landscape e conformational suybstates

Single Molecole Methods
Statistical ensembles and single molecules

Enzymes and molecular machines

Full programme

A modern vision of biophysics
Living systems and order generation
Free energy transduction
Diffusion and dissipation

Random Walk, friction, and diffusion
Diffusion of molecular species within cells

The structure of proteins
Function and strcucture of proteins
Determiantion of protein structure
Protein folding and energy landscape
Spectroscopic methods for the study of protein folding

Function of proteins: protein-ligand interactions
Allostery
Relations between function, structure, and dynamics
Energy landscape e conformational suybstates

Single Molecole Methods
Statistical ensembles and single molecules

Enzymes and molecular machines

Bibliography

Papers from recent literature and slides of the lessons

Teaching methods

Lessons, possibly practice in lab

Assessment methods and criteria

The exam consists in the preparation of a seminar by elaborating on one of the topics covered by the course.

Other information

none