Cell Biology and Biochemistry Major

This course provides an in-depth study of the structural biochemistry of biomolecules, particularly proteins and nucleic acids.

The basic concepts and terminology used in the analysis of 3D protein structures are briefly reviewed here (Ramachandran plot, structural motifs and domains, folding, family, superfamily, etc.). These concepts are supplemented by a study of the stability and dynamics of biomolecules.

The structural classification of proteins is described in detail based on the four main types of folding. Structure-function relationships are illustrated using examples of proteins. The specific characteristics of membrane protein structures (integral proteins, membrane-bound proteins) are discussed.

The main tools for modeling and predicting secondary and tertiary structures are presented.

The various structures and functions of nucleic acids are studied. Protein-nucleic acid complexes are described from a structural perspective (main recognition motifs, etc.), and the concepts of recognition specificity are explained in detail.

This course is supplemented by tutorials. These tutorials are designed to familiarize students with the main databases used in structural biology, as well as with the PyMol software for analyzing 3D structures.

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This course provides fundamental knowledge of formal and structural enzymology.

- The first part of this course covers formal kinetics (the study of reaction rates, determining the order of a reaction, equilibrium and kinetics, reversible and equilibrated reactions). The experimental aspects are presented in parallel (determining kinetic constants using spectrophotometry, fluorescence, radioactivity, immunoassays, etc.).

- The second part of the course focuses on the study of single-substrate enzyme kinetics.

Definition of an enzyme, a catalyst. Enzyme classification (EC)

Michaelis kinetics. Michaelis-Menten equation. Definition of enzymatic parameters:_KM, maximum velocity, catalytic constant, turnover. Various graphical representations (Lineweaver-Burk, Eadie-Hofstee). 

The different types of inhibition are also studied (competitive, uncompetitive, noncompetitive, mixed), as well as their graphical representation.

Determination of the inhibition constant. Irreversible inhibitors.

Reaction rate. Arrhenius's law.

- The third section focuses on describing multi-substrate enzyme kinetics from a formal perspective. Including ternary complexes. Random or ordered mechanisms.

Without a ternary complex. Ping-Pong mechanism, Theorell-Chance mechanism. Cleland representation.

Graphical determination.

- Part 4 covers equilibrium binding and allosterism.

Receptor-Ligand / Enzyme-Substrate Binding. Determination of the dissociation (or association) constant. Specific and nonspecific binding.

Scatchard's demonstration and graphical representation. Allosteric receptors (or enzymes). Non-Michaelis enzyme. Concept of cooperativity. Positive and negative cooperativity. Hill number, Hill plot.

Allosteric regulation models are presented. Allostery. Models of cooperativity: concerted (Monod-Wyman-Changeux) and sequential (Koshland-Nemethy-Filmer). Role of effectors: activators or inhibitors. Example of hemoglobin and oxygen binding.

- The fifth part of the course explores the relationship between enzyme structures and their functions using several examples. It describes the 3D structures and catalytic mechanisms of acetylcholine esterase, proteases, and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. It also covers concepts such as the catalytic triad, the binding pocket, and more. 

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This course describes the methodology used by life sciences researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. Since English is the common language of international researchers, a large portion of this course is taught in English.

Written communication is addressed through an examination of the (macro) structure of a research article, as well as through an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written (micro) structure are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.

These courses are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in the scientific literature and present it as an oral presentation (lecture) in English.

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Molecular biology is not only a fascinating field of study in its own right, but it also provides other branches of biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.

The EU is deepening our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.

In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how the interactions between them account for the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and to the development of organisms.

At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression—or to study the mechanisms underlying gene expression—will be covered in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.

Thus, the tutorials address these topics through (1) exercises that allow students to assess their understanding of the concepts described above, and (2) experiments drawn from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, students will acquire and/or deepen their understanding of the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and the critical analysis of results.

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Functional genetics aims to better understand the relationships between genotype and phenotype. This course covers various aspects of analyzing gene and genome function at the whole-genome level using in vivo approaches, as well as transcriptional regulation and the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic genomes. The course is illustrated with concrete examples from developmental genetics in both physiological and pathological contexts.

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This course unit enables students to deepen their understanding of metabolism. It provides a comprehensive overview of human metabolism. It will emphasize the connections between various metabolic pathways. It will also demonstrate how different tissues communicate with one another to maintain overall energy homeostasis. Disruptions in this metabolic process that lead to certain diseases will be discussed.

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