BIOC 581: Physical Biochemistry
When: Tuesday, Thursday from 8:30 to 9:50 am, in Chem 204
Instructors:
Bruce Bowler, Chem 310, x6114, bruce.bowler@umontana.edu
Sandy Ross, Chem 013, x6026, sandy.ross@umontana.edu
Texts: Readings from various texts and the literature will be assigned.
Evaluation: Homework, 45%, Presentations, 25%, Final Exam 35%.
Notes:
 The  grading system will be employed.
 See Cyberbear, Catalog, and/or Student Conduct Code for policies regarding incomplete
grades, disability accommodations, definition and potential consequences of plagiarism, and
late-drop requirements.
Course Format:
Class time will be used in three ways:
1. We will present material in lecture format.
2. Students will be asked to explain their answers to assigned homework problems to the
class before handing in the problem sets.
3. Students will make Powerpoint presentations on literature papers related to lecture
material, followed by class discussion.
Topics and Approximate Schedule:
Week 1
Jan 25 Lecture Ross, Binding Theory
Jan 27 Lecture Ross, Binding Theory
Week 2
Feb 1 Lecture Ross, Binding Theory, Homework Assigned
Feb 3 Lecture Ross, Binding Theory, Homework Discussion
Week 3
Feb 8 Two Student Presentations and discussion of papers
Feb 10 Lecture Bowler, Helix-coil Theory
Week 4
Feb 15 Lecture Bowler, Helix-coil Theory
Feb 17 Lecture Bowler, Helix-coil Theory, Homework Assigned
Week 5
Feb 22 Lecture Bowler, Protein Folding and Stability, Homework Discussion
Feb 24 Two Student Presentations and discussion of papers
Week 6
Mar 1 Lecture Bowler, Protein Folding and Stability
Mar 3 Lecture Bowler, Protein Folding and Stability
Week 7
Mar 8 Biophysical Society Meeting, no class
Mar 10 Lecture Bowler, Protein Folding Kinetics, Homework Assigned
Week 8
Mar 15 Lecture Bowler, Protein Folding Kinetics, Homework Discussion
Mar 17 Two Student Presentations and discussion of papers
Week 9
Mar 22 Lecture Ross, Biophysical Methods I
Mar 24 Lecture Ross, Biophysical Methods I,
Week 10
Mar 29 Lecture Ross, Biophysical Methods I
Mar 31 No lecture – root canal (ouch!)
Spring Break April 4 – April 8
Week 11
Apr 12 Lecture Ross, Biophysical Methods II, Homework Assigned
Apr 14 Lecture Ross, Biophysical Methods II
Week 12
Apr 19 Lecture Ross, Biophysical Methods II, Homework Discussion
Apr 21 Two Student Presentations (Jackson and Abbi) and discussion of papers
Week 13
Apr 26 Lecture Bowler, Hydrogen Exchange
Apr 28 Lecture Bowler, Hydrogen Exchange
Week 14
May 3 Lecture Bowler, Hydrogen Exchange
May 5 Two Student Presentations (Levi and Labe) and discussion of papers
Final Exam: Wednesday, May 11, 8:00-10:00 am