ELEMENTS OF BIOPHYSICS
Learning outcomes of the course unit
This course is intended to give an overview on the modern molecular biophysics.
The aim of this course is to introduce in a qualitative manner, modern spectroscopic techniques and show selected applications to relevant current topics. It is intended to also show how physical methods can become extremely valuable tools for understanding biological processes.
The selection of topics is intended to guide students to make a more thoughtful choice for their future studies, possibly in Biophysics. It is also intended to give students in Biological Sciences an overview on the modern experimental methods that are available to tackle very complex biological problems.
Prerequisites
Course contents summary
A modern vision of biophysics
Living systems and order generation
Free energy transduction
Diffusion and dissipation
Random Walk, friction, and diffusion
Diffusion of molecular species within cells
The structure of proteins
Function and strcucture of proteins
Determiantion of protein structure
Protein folding and energy landscape
Spectroscopic methods for the study of protein folding
Function of proteins: protein-ligand interactions
Allostery
Relations between function, structure, and dynamics
Energy landscape e conformational suybstates
Single Molecole Methods
Statistical ensembles and single molecules
Enzymes and molecular machines
Recommended readings
Biological Physics
Energy, Information, Life
Updated first edition
Philip Nelson
Palgrave Macmillan and WH Freeman ed.
Teaching methods
The exam consists in the preparation of a written text by elaborating on one of the topics covered by the course.
