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CH50198: Chemistry of the cell

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Chemistry
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 25%, EX 75%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: After taking this unit you must take CH50199
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
Understand the fundamental chemistry/biochemistry that underpins life and critically evaluate how drug molecules can be designed to treat disease states via selective interaction with individual enzymes/receptors at a molecular level.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course the student should be able to:
* be familiar with the chemical/biochemical information required to understand how a range of different drug molecules operate at a molecular level;
* appreciate how proteins and receptors are used to control structure and function and explain how their activities can be manipulated via selective interactions with drug molecules;
* understand how enzymes catalyse reactions at a molecular level and use case studies to demonstrate how their interactions with drug molecules can be used to treat the disease state;
* appreciate how nucleic acids encode genetic information and describe how proteins are synthesised at the ribosome with an emphasis on understanding how drug molecules can be used to regulate cell division;
* understand how lipids, proteins and carbohydrates combine to control the structure and function of cell membranes and critically evaluate how drugs can be used to manipulate receptor function;
* appreciate the chemistry and biochemistry of carbohydrates with an emphasis on how they are used as a source of energy and how their biopolymers are used to communicate information.

Skills:
Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Numeracy & computation T/F/A, Problem solving T/F, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F, Career preparation T/F.

Content:
Overview of the cell. Proteins: amino acids - structures, ionisation and physical properties; primary, secondary and tertiary structure and an overview of protein folding, conformation and degradation. Enzymes: catalysis, kinetics, regulation. Receptors: structure and signal transduction; agonists, antagonists, mode of action. Common methods for purifying and analysing proteins. Nucleic acids: structures, ionisation and physical properties; DNA: primary and secondary structure; packaging; replication, transcription. Different types of RNA; Protein synthesis: the ribosome and mRNA translation. The structures of relevant carbohydrates and lipids and their role in metabolism and membrane formation. Relevant examples of different drugs directed at different biological targets with an emphasis on understanding their mode of action at a molecular level.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CH50198 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Chemistry
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/14 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.