Chemistry: Structural Biochemistry

The course in structural biochemistry provides you with a better understanding of proteins, particularly their three-dimensional structures and how these affect biological function, as well as how these structures are determined.

You will learn the principles behind protein properties and the most important experimental methods. Examples of methods in modern molecular protein science covered include X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering, and cryo-electron microscopy. You will also gain knowledge of how structural information about proteins can be used to develop better drugs.

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

The teaching consists of lectures, computer exercises, and laboratory work. Participation in computer exercises and 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.

Lectures

During the lectures, we cover:

• Conformation of polypeptides
• Secondary and three-dimensional structure of proteins, structure classes, and structure databases
• Prediction and modelling of protein structure
• Protein stability, dynamics, and interactions
• Ligand binding and structure-based drug design
• Principles of X-ray crystallography and other methods such as cryo-electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and neutron scattering

Laboratory work and exercises

• You will practice relevant computer-based methods to study protein structures and their dynamics.
• You will learn to search sequence and structure databases and model proteins with unknown structures.
• We cover all critical steps in structure determination using X-ray crystallography, including crystallisation, data collection, data processing, structure determination, model building, refinement, and validation.
• You will perform simpler exercises in other experimental methods. Some exercises are conducted as demonstrations.

Prerequisites

To be admitted to the course, students must meet the general entry requirements for higher education and requirements for English proficiency corresponding to English 6 from Swedish upper secondary school, and have passed 90 credits in science courses including courses equivalent to: KEMA20 General Chemistry 15 credits, or KEMA10 General Chemistry 7.5 credits and KEMA12 Inorganic Chemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits, KEMA01 Organic Chemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits and KEMA03 Biochemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits, and MOBA02 Chemistry of the Cell 15 credits Students who have obtained the equivalent knowledge by other means may also be admitted to the course.

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 46,250
First payment: SEK 46,250

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.