MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course will provide the student the fundamental concepts to apply physical-chemistry to the biological problems.
The topics have been selected giving preference to those that most can contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the biological phenomena.
The laboratory section of the course not only will deepen the technique fundamentals but will help the student to gain the independence useful to independently perform the measurement and interpret the data
Course contents summary
The first part of the course will concern general arguments:
• Background Thermodynamics: free energy
• Water: structure and properties
• Aqueous solutions: hydrophilic and hydrophobic solutes
• Biological macromolecules: protein folding
• Solutions of biological macromolecules
• Self-assembly
The second part of the course introduces fundamentals of some spectroscopic methods in biophysics: FTIR; CD and NMR
Recommended readings
Papers and slides of the course
Teaching methods
Theoretical lessons are frontal lectures. The course consists of a number of practical exercises. The experimental activities are aimed to provide each student the independence to independently project a measurement and interpret the data.
Assessment methods and criteria
Lecture on one of the topics treated during the course and analysis and discussion of the experimental results obtained during the laboratory activities.
