Course code:
2452B		 Course name:
Contemporary Biochemical Methods

Academic year:

2012/2013.

Attendance requirements:

There are no requirements.

ECTS:

8

Study level:

graduate academic studies

Study program:

Biochemistry: 1. year, winter semester, compulsory course

Teacher:

Tanja D. Ćirković Veličković, Ph.D.
full professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistant:

Jelena Z. Radosavljević, Ph.D.
assistant professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: four hours of lectures + three hours of labwork (4+0+3)

Goals:

Very detailed introduction to the fundamentals in molecular and cell biology, followed by an overview of standard techniques applied in molecular biotechnology - including chromatography and electrophoresis, cloning techniques, gene expression systems, immunological methods, labeling of proteins and in situ techniques, microscopy and laser systems. The course focuses on the key topics of molecular biotechnology, ranging from functional genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics to drug targeting, recombinant antibodies, structural biology, gene therapy and knock mice. The whole is rounded off by a section on biotechnology in industry dealing with patenting issues, ethical issues, company foundation and market opportunities.

Outcome:

The course of molecular biotechnology contributes to knowledge required nowday in a research laboratory and also gives necessary practical skills directly linked to industrial applications (vaccines and sera handling, protein analysis, analysis of DNA, recombinant DNA technology).

Students are skilled in wide range of protein biochemistry and molecular biology techniques, with special applications in molecular biotechnology: recombinant DNA technology, work with microbial products, heterologous protein production.

Teaching methods:

Lectures, tutorial and lab work.

Extracurricular activities:

—

Coursebooks:

Main coursebooks:

  1. An Iintroduction to Molecular Biotechnology – Michael Wink
  2. Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics – Sandy B. Primrose and R. M. Twyman

Supplementary coursebooks:

  1. Short Protocols in Molecular Biology. Vol 1 and 2. Edited by: Ausubel F. M. et al.
  2. Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Wilson K. and Walker J.
  3. Mammalian Cell Biotechnology in Protein Production. Hauser H. and Wagner R.
  4. The Protein Protocols. Walker J. M.
  5. Basic Laboratory Calculations for Biotechnology - L. A. Seidman

Additional material:

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  Course activities and grading method

Lectures:

10 points (4 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. An introduction to molecular biotechnology. Principles and applications of recombinant DNA Molecular biotechnology biological systems (procariotic and eukariotic) Eukariotic cells in culture DNA, RNA and protein synthesis.
  2. An introduction to molecular biotechnology. An overview of standard techniques applied in molecular biotechnology - including chromatography and electrophoresis, cloning techniques, gene expression systems, immunological methods, labeling of proteins and in situ-techniques, microscopy and laser systems.
  3. Cloning strategies Restriction endonucleases Plasmid cloning vectors Creating and screening a library Transformation of procariots cDNA libraries.
  4. Chemical synthesis and sequencing of DNA Amplification of DNA Sequencing of DNA.
  5. Gene manipulation strategies (protein engineering) Rational design of proteins Site-directed mutagenesis Dirigated evolution of proteins.
  6. Heterologous expression of proteins in procariotic systems.
  7. Manipulation of gens in procariots and optimization of gene expression in procariots.
  8. Heterologous expression of proteins in eucariotic systems.
  9. Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system Other yeast expression systems Insect cells expression systems.
  10. Molecular biotechnology of microbial systems.
  11. Molecular diagnostics Microbial production of therapeutic agents.
  12. Vaccines.
  13. Synthesis of commercial products by recombinant microorganisms Restriction endonucleases Antibiotics Biopolymers Other examples.
  14. Microbial insecticides.
  15. Genetic engineering of plants: methodology and applications.
  16. Animal biotechnology.
  17. Transgenic animals.
  18. Regulating and patenting molecular biotechnology Ethical concerns in molecular biotechnology Patenting molecular biotechnology Legal, social and ethical aspects of biotechnology.

Labwork:

15 points (3 hours a week)

Colloquia:

25 points

Oral exam:

40 points

Tutorial:

10 points (1 hour a week)