5 ECTS credits
125 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021639BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students must have followed ‘Thermodynamics’ and 'Organic Chemistry: Structural Aspects' and 'Organic Chemistry: Reactivity' and 'Physics: Electromagnetism' and 'Biochemistry', before they can enroll for ‘Biophysical Chemistry’. Enrolling in ‘Biophysical Chemistry’ means also that you simultaneously follow 'Mathematical and Physical Models: Data Analysis in Biotechnology' or have successfully passed 'Mathematical and Physical Models: Data Analysis in Biotechnology’.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Bio-Engineering Sciences
Educational team
Remy Loris
Wim Versées (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
39 contact hours Lecture
Course Content

This class covers a series of biophysical techniques that are used to investigate different aspects of the three-dimensional structure of organic molecules and biological macromolecules (proteins, DNA, RNA).  Topics that are being dealt with include X-ray diffraction, with special emphasis on single-crystal diffraction, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and classical spectroscopies, including UV absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and light scattering. 

During the lectures the theory underlying these methods is introduced and their practical applications are illustrated using a number of examples taken from the literature. 

 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Cursusmateriaal, bestaande uit gedetailleerde PowerPoint slides, wordt ter beschikking gesteld door de titularis, Canvas
Digital course material (Required) : Voor de delen X-straal diffractie en spectroscopie wordt tevens een uitgeschreven tekst ter beschikking gesteld, Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, J.P. Hore, 2de, Oxford University Press, 9780198703419, 2015
Handbook (Recommended) : The physical and chemical basis of molecular biology, hoofdstukken 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, Thomas E. Creighton, BIB, 9780956478108, 2011
Additional info

Nihil

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

- The students have knowledge about and have insight in the theory of X-ray diffraction in the context of macromolecular structure determination

- The students have a basic knowledge about and have insight in the theory of electron microscopy in the context of macromolecular structure determination

- The students have profound knowledge about and have insight in the theory of nuclear magnetic resonance and know how to interpret simple NMR spectra

- The students understand how three-dimensional structures of macromolecules can be determined using X-ray diffraction, EM or NMR

- The students have obtained knowledge and insight into the different methods used for mass spectrometry.

- The students are knowledgeable on the different spectroscopic methods used in biochemistry  (UV absorption, UV fluorescence, circular dichroism, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, light scatter) and can apply this knowledge to a simple practical case in biochemistry

- The students have insight into the advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques used in structure determination

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Schriftelijk examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Schriftelijk examen. De studenten krijgen een aantal vragen die de verschillende delen van de cursus omvatten. Er wordt gepeild naar zowel parate kennis als inzicht.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Written exam (closed books). The students will be presented with a number of questions that cover the different topics of the course: part 1: X-ray diffraction and EM, part 2: NMR, and part 3: spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Both knowledge and insights in these topics will be tested.

These three parts will obtain an identical weight in the calculation of the final grade.

 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Cell and Gene Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Initial track (only offered in Dutch)