Applied Structural Biology

This practical course is based on mini-projects involving the application of techniques for the structural study of biomolecules (X-ray crystallography, NMR, cryo-EM, mass spectrometry). In addition, students will learn the biophysical and biochemical techniques used to characterize the analyzed molecules and their interactions.

For each approach, students will learn the basic principles, sample preparation requirements, data acquisition and analysis.

Students will learn to use the different tools available for the structural characterization of biomolecules and their interactions. In addition, they will learn how to combine these different tools to answer a given biological question.

- Structural biochemistry: structures and physicochemical properties of amino acids, lipids and sugars; primary to quaternary structure of proteins, physicochemical basis of molecular interactions.

- Technical biochemistry: production and purification of proteins

- Bioinformatics tools: PyMol, alignments, blast, secondary structure prediction

- Physics: basics of light/object interaction, scattering, absorption, diffraction

-Math: complex numbers, Fourier analysis, vector bases and Euclidean geometry

Recommended prerequisites:

Bootcamp (HAV704V)

Structural Biology (HAV712V)