CH3H6-15 Chemical Biology
Introductory description
This module builds on concepts covered in Year 2 modules and laboratories and expands knowledge and understanding of Bio-Organic and Bio-Inorganic Chemistry. The module is split into 2 coherent topics that draw upon each other. The lectures will be supported by practical workshops and case studies.
Module aims
By the end of the module, students will have built up subject knowledge in Bio-Organic and Bio-Inorganic Chemistry, allowing them to have contextual understanding of contemporary examples of biosynthesis and ability to interpret and evaluate examples from the literature.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Topic I: Metals in Biomolecules, including:
- Introduction and important concepts
- Techniques to study metals in biological systems
- Metal ion transport and storage
- Introduction to redox (metallo-)biochemistry including electron transfer
Topic II: Natural products biosynthesis, including
- Introduction to Natural Products and their Biosynthesis
- Coenzymes – functions and mechanisms
- Aromatic polyketide biosynthesis
- Complex polyketide biosynthesis/non-ribosomal peptide synthesis including
metallophores - Terpenes biosynthesis
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Have built up subject knowledge in Bio-Organic and Bio-Inorganic Chemistry to an appropriate level. This includes: o Essential metal ions, their interactions with biomolecules, and their functions o Discovery, origins, and biosynthetic mechanisms of bioactive natural products (including methodology).
- Have developed contextual understanding of contemporary examples such as: o Mechanisms of polyketide antibiotic biosynthesis o How terpenoid antimalarials, anticancer agents, and flavours and fragrances are assembled o Mechanism of siderophore (and other metallophore) biosynthesis o Biological function of siderophores (and other metallophores) o Mode of action of selected (metallo-)enzymes involved in Biosynthesis
- - Have developed the ability to interpret and evaluate examples from the literature, such as: o Spectroscopic and other data to understand properties and mode of action of (metallo-)proteins o Incorporation of isotope-labelled precursors into natural products and application of 13C NMR spectroscopy to elucidating the site of incorporation o Predictive analysis of aromatic polyketide biosynthetic mechanisms, including iterative process for building poly-beta-keto thioesters and their modes of cyclisation via intramolecular aldol condensation/dehydration cascades o Complex polyketide biosynthetic mechanisms, including modular process for functional group modification during chain assembly, mechanisms of stereocontrol, and chain release via macrolactonization o Predictive analysis of terpenoid biosynthetic mechanisms, including iterative process for building polyisoprenoid precursors and their modes of cyclisation and rearrangement via carbocatioinic intermediates o Nonribosomal peptide biosynthetic mechanisms, including modular process for activation, condensation, and modification of amino acid building blocks and creation and non-proteinogenic precursors
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Research element
Assessed work component is student-led research
Subject specific skills
Ability to interpret and evaluate literature examples within the field of Bio-Organic and Bio-Inorganic Chemistry.
Transferable skills
Communication
Critical Thinking
Digital Literacy
Information Literacy
Problem Solving
Professionalism
Sustainability
Teamwork
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 sessions of 1 hour (13%) |
| Practical classes | 5 sessions of 1 hour (3%) |
| Private study | 125 hours (83%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
N/A
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group D
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Flash presentation | 20% | No | |
|
Student-led research into selected natural products, including production of original imagery, to be compiled into 1 slide for a flash presentation (1 slide - 2 min) |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Centrally-timetabled examination (On-campus) | 80% | No | |
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Written Examination
|
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Cohort level examination feedback and individual written feedback provided to students via Moodle/Tabula.
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Courses
This module is Option list C for:
-
UCHA-4 Undergraduate Chemistry (with Intercalated Year) Variants
- Year 4 of F101 Chemistry (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 4 of F122 Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (with Intercalated Year)
-
UCHA-3 Undergraduate Chemistry 3 Year Variants
- Year 3 of F100 Chemistry
- Year 3 of F121 Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
- Year 3 of UCHA-F110 Undergraduate Master of Chemistry (with Industrial Placement)
- Year 4 of UCHA-F107 Undergraduate Master of Chemistry (with Intercalated Year)
-
UCHA-F109 Undergraduate Master of Chemistry (with International Placement)
- Year 3 of F109 MChem Chemistry (with International Placement)
- Year 3 of F111 MChem Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (with International Placement)
-
UCHA-4M Undergraduate Master of Chemistry Variants
- Year 3 of F100 Chemistry
- Year 3 of F105 Chemistry
- Year 3 of F109 MChem Chemistry (with International Placement)
- Year 3 of F125 MChem Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
- Year 4 of UCHA-F127 Undergraduate Master of Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry(with Intercalated Year)