Special topics in biophysical chemistry

The course will discuss selected topics on proteins and membranes. It will begin with background information followed by detailed discussion of subjects involving the dynamics, energetics and interaction of protein and membrane. The course will cover the following:

1.Introduction
Exploring protein and membrane

2.Protein structure
Amino acids
Peptides
The structure of protein

3.Membrane structure
Lipid bilayer
Model of biological membrane
Protein-lipid interactions

4.Protein stability and folding
Interaction forces
Protein folding and unfolding

5.Water structure
Anomalous properties of water
Structure of water
Ion-solvent interaction

6.Hydrophobic interaction
Apolar molecule —water interaction
Free energy of transfer
Entropy driving
Hydropathic index
Structure maker and breaker
Temperature dependence

7.Biothermodynamics
Laws of thermodynamics
Criteria of equilibrium and spontaneity
High energy compounds
Coupled reaction
Calorimetry
Ligand binding

8.Biochemical kinetics
Kinetics order
Equilibrium and kinetics
Steady-state approximation
Stopped-flow kinetics
Enzyme kinetics

9.Fluorescence spectroscopy
Intrinsic and extrinsic fluorophores
Fluorescence quenching
Fluorescence polarization

10.UV spectroscopy and circular dichroism
Protein concentration
Protein secondary structure
Protein denaturation

11.Displacement fluctuation of atoms in protein
Temperature factor in X-ray scattering
Protein substructures

12.Membrane lipids and fluidity
Liposomes
Lipid phase
Fluidity and activity

13.Membrane potential and transport
Electrochemical potential
Ion-coupled active transport
Action potential