BIOSCI 350 : Protein Structure and Function
Science
2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The aim of BIOSCI 350 is to provide an understanding of the experimental approaches needed to move from the genome (DNA sequence information) to studies of protein structure and function. The paper will examine computational analysis of protein sequence and function, methods for purifying and identifying proteins, as well as experimental approaches to study protein function and protein-protein interactions. You will learn about the ways proteins fold to form three-dimensional shapes and ways to determine and analyse protein structure by X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. Finally, you will study the uses of structural information to undercover biological function.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Recognise and describe that proteins are dynamic molecules whose structures are linked to their environment. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply bioinformatic algorithms to analyse protein sequence and structure. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Differentiate and explain methods for recombinant protein production, purification and characterisation. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Critically evaluate the physical principles underpinning absorbance, circular dichroism and solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the practical difficulties in making spectroscopic measurements on proteins, and the application of those measurements. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Define or explain how protein structure can be interrogated using mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Explain and apply the physical and chemical principles underlying macromolecular interactions to proteins. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Explain how thermodynamic principles underpin protein folding and stability. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Explain how the principles of protein structure drive the molecular functions of proteins. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Develop the analytical and practical skills to define a research question in a group-based learning environment, and use these skills to answer that question and communicate the answers in a lab report. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 32.5% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 32.5% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Students must pass the practical (laboratory) and the theory (quizzes, test and exam) independently to pass the course overall.
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
Key Topics
Special Requirements
There will be an evening Test, the date and time for which will published in the BIOSCI 350 Canvas course.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures and/or tutorials per week and 3 hours of labs per fortnight. This means you should plan to spend 5.5 hours of work per week on reading and thinking about the content, on assignments and lab reports, and/or test and exam preparation. If you choose to not attend lectures you miss out on active learning and discussions held in the lectures, and will need to spend at least 8.5 hours a week in independent learning.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
We strongly recommend lecture attendance, but they will also be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Staff welcome feedback on the course throughout the semester, including the SET evaluations. Please contact your course coordinator or student representative at any time with your feedback.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.