BIC-20806 Enzymology

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures24
Practical intensively supervised72
Self-study
Course coordinator(s)dr. ir. WMAM van Dongen
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. WMAM van Dongen
prof. dr. WJH van Berkel
dr. MCR Franssen
Examiner(s)dr. ir. WMAM van Dongen
prof. dr. WJH van Berkel
dr. MCR Franssen

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 and -kinetics, effects of fluctuations and entropy, acid-base and nucleophilic catalysis, co-enzyme chemistry and enzymes containing cofactors, and free-energy relationships biocatalytic and regulatory strategies. 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.

Learning outcomes:

After finishing the course, students are expected:
- to have knowledge on and insight into the chemical principles of enzyme catalysis, including cofactor chemistry;
- to have insight in the action of enzymes as biocatalysts and in factors that influence enzyme activity;
- to understand the kinetics of enzymatic reactions;
- to be aware of the influence of enzyme structure on catalytic properties;
- to have experience with purification, handling and characterization of proteins;
- have insight in the physico-chemical properties of proteins that underly purification methods.

Activities:

Attending lectures, studying the readers, performing experiments and analysing the results. A study guide can be obtained from Eduweb.

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 Eduweb.

Literature:

The textbook for the Biocatalysis unit is 'Biochemistry' (Berg, Tymoczko and Stryer, 6th ed.). Powerpoint presentations of the lectures will be made available. Readers for the lectures and for the practical course are available at the WUR-shop.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: BBTBiotechnologyBSc6WD
BMLMolecular Life SciencesBSc3WD
MinorPeriod
Compulsory for: WUBITBSc Minor Biotechnology6WD