Department of Natural Sciences

Biochemistry and Molecular Biological Methods

Lecture

V: 1 SWS Biochemistry + 1 SWS Molecular Biological Methods
Ü: 1 SWS Biochemistry + 1 SWS Molecular Biological Methods
P: 1 SWS Biochemistry + 1 SWS Molecular Biological Methods;

Biochemistry:

Lecture:

Cells - structure and function -, organelles.
Biomolecules under physiological conditions, buffers, intra- and intermolecular forces.
Proteins: Amino acids - structure and function -, peptides, proteins, proteoforms, posttranslational modifications, enzymes, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, enzyme inhibition, regulation, catalytic mechanisms, classification of enzymes and proteins.
Advanced protein and metabolite analysis by electrophoretic, chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods, sample preparation methods
Carbohydrates and lipids: structure and function, cell membranes, membrane proteins, membrane channels and pumps
Metabolic pathways including glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, citrate cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism - concepts and basic patterns, metabolic energy, signal transduction
Selected case studies in forensic pathobiochemistry.

Exercise:

Biochemical calculations, data analysis and interpretation using problems and case studies.

Molecular Biological Methods:

Lecture:

Molecular cloning methods
expression vectors
transfection and transduction of cells
RNA interference and CRISPR-Cas
reverse transcription and RNA analysis

Practical Course

Biochemistry:

Lab course:

Various methods of protein determination, enzyme kinetics studies using the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, enzyme purification using ion exchange FPLC.

Molecular Biological Methods:

Lab course:

transfection of mammalian cells with a reporter construct
RNA extraction and expression analysis using RT-PCR

Requirements

For the participation in lectures or exercises: there are no entry requirements;
for the participation in practical class: successful attendance to the Specific Laboratory Safety Instruction is mandatory.

Assessment:

Modular examination – graded

Written exam – 100% of overall grade
Successful participation in the laboratory course is a prerequisite for passing the final examination.

Literature

Berg, J.M. et al. (2019): Biochemistry, WH Freeman, 9th ed.
Löffler/Petrides: Biochemie und Pathobiochemie (2014), Springer
von der Saal, K. (2020): Biochemie, Springer Spektrum
Brown, T.A. (2016) Gene Cloning and DNA analysis: An introduction, Wiley-Blackwell