Learning objectives
<br />The course aims at providing a systematic introduction to the main biochemical techniques for the identification, purification and functional characterization of macromolecules.
Prerequisites
<br />Pre-requisites (strongly recommended): basic courses in Physics, Chemistry, Microbiology and Biochemistry.
Course unit content
<br />Cell fractionation.<br />Centrifugative techniques: differential centrifugation, density gradient centrifugation.<br />Protein extraction and purification. <br />Chromatography of biomacromolecules: ion-exchange, size exclusion and affinity chromatography. HPLC.<br />Electrophoresis: principles and applications. SDS-PAGE, isoelectrofocusing, 2D-PAGE.<br />Immunochemical techniques: immunoprecipitation, ELISA, Western blotting.<br />Spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy.<br />Use of radioisotopes in the biochemistry laboratory. Geiger counters, scintillation counters, autoradiography and phosphorimaging<br />Enzyme assays: continuous, discontinuous and based on coupled reactions. Activity units.<br />Introduction to mass spectrometry.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Rob Reed, David Holmes, Jonathan Weyers, Alla Jones<br />Metodologie di base per le scienze biomolecolari<br />Zanichelli, Bologna, 2002<br />
Teaching methods
<br />The course is constituted by formal classroom presentations.<br />The final assessment of the students will be based on a written test.
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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