BIC-20806 Enzymology

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BIC-10306; MIB-10306

Contents:

The Enzymology course comprises: a) isolation and purification of enzymes (in a 2-week practical course) and b) principles of enzymatic catalysis (in 24 lectures). The most important principles in homogenic and enzymatic catalysis are reviewed during the lectures. The following subjects are covered: chemical and enzymatic catalysis, effects of fluctuations and entropy, acid-base and nucleophilic catalysis, co-enzyme chemistry and enzymes containing cofactors, and free-energy relationships. These subjects are illustrated by a number of enzymes and enzymatic reactions.
Study of a mechanism of enzyme catalysis requires a very high degree of purity of the respective enzyme. The practicals comprise isolation and purification of enzymes from cells or tissues, based on their physico-chemical properties. A number of enzymes is purified by precipitation methods and different chromatographic techniques (gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, bio-affinity chromatography, adsorption chromatography). Initial characterization of the purified enzymes will be performed as well.

Aims:

- obtaining insight into the chemical principles of enzyme catalysis and into the action of enzymes as biocatalysts;
- get a 'feeling' for handling enzymes;
- obtaining insight into and experience with purification of enzymes, based on their physico-chemical properties.

Activities:

Attending lectures, studying the readers, performing experiments and analysing the results. A study guide can be obtained from http://gcg.tran.wau.nl/local/Biochem/educatio/, click on 'Enzymology'.

Examination:

The final mark Enzymology is composed from the following partial marks: - a mark for the exam on the Biocatalysis unit (50% of the final mark; minimal mark 5.5);
- a mark for performance during the practicals on enzyme purification (25% of the final mark; minimal mark 5.5);
- a mark for the test on the theory of enzyme purification (25% of the final mark; minimal mark 5.5).
Sufficient partial marks for either the Biocatalysis unit or for the practicals (the average of the partial marks for performance and test) keep their validity. Further announcements on the examination can be found on the website of the Lab for Biochemistry (http://gcg.tran.wau.nl/local/Biochem/educatio/, click on the Enzymology button).

Literature:

The textbook for the Biocatalysis unit is 'Biochemistry' (Berg, Tymoczko and Stryer, 5 th ed., Kniphorst). A reader and/or Powerpoint presentations of the lecturers will be made available. A reader and manual for the practical course ('Practical course Enzymology', 06032702) is available at the Centraal Magazijn.