Chemistry: Advanced Biochemistry

Membrane proteins are crucial for cellular energy metabolism and for the cell's ability to sense and communicate with its environment. More than half of all drugs target these proteins.

In this course, you will learn about different types of membrane proteins, how to overexpress and purify them, and how to use various methods to analyse their structure and function. You will also undertake a project where, with guidance, you plan, clone, and overexpress a membrane protein of your choice.

The course in advanced biochemistry aims to provide you with deeper knowledge and understanding of membrane biochemistry and the structure, topology, and functional mechanisms of membrane proteins at the molecular level.

The course is offered both as part of a programme and as a standalone course.

The teaching includes lectures, exercises, laboratory work, and project work. Participation in laboratory work, along with associated components, is mandatory. Assessment is conducted through a written exam at the end of the course and through laboratory work and associated mandatory components during the course.

Lectures

We cover the three main types of membrane proteins and their cellular processes: transport and transporters, signal transduction and receptors, and bioenergetics and photosynthetic and respiratory proteins. We take a closer look at some proteins from each process to highlight the functional molecular mechanisms. You will learn about methods to model the structure of membrane proteins, use fusion protein techniques, X-ray crystallography, heterologous expression, and how to solubilise and purify membrane proteins.

Laboratory work, exercises, and project work

The laboratory work involves determining a membrane protein's transmembrane topology. You will learn to create a model of the protein and then experimentally determine its topology. An in silico exercise addressing issues in detecting heterologously expressed membrane protein, solubilisation, and evaluation of detergent properties is included in the course. You will also undertake project work where you choose a membrane protein to express and demonstrate successful expression.

Prerequisites

90 ECTS credits Science studies including knowledge corresponding to KEMA20 Chemistry: General Chemistry, 15 credits, KEMA01 Organic Chemistry - Basic Course, 7,5 credits, KEMA03 Biochemistry - Basic Course, 7.5 credits, and MOBA02 Chemistry of the Cell, 15 credits. English 6/English Course B.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 42,500
First payment: SEK 42,500

Convert currency – xe.com

Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.