Module Title Molecular Pharmacology, PHARG003
Core module, 15 credits
Module code
Module leader
Short description
Module aims
Module objectives
PHARG003
Dr Alasdair Gibb and Dr Guy Moss
Molecular Pharmacology is a 0.5 unit (15 credits) course designed to provide core material on the structure and function of receptors and the quantitative aspects of the action of drugs at receptors.
The course aims to teach students about the structure and function of neurotransmitter and hormone receptors and about the quantitative aspects of the action of drugs at receptors.
On completion of the course, students should have a detailed knowledge of the following topics
1) Use of the Law of Mass Action to quantify the interaction of drugs and receptors
2) The action of agonists and antagonists and the concept of efficacy
3) Ion channel receptors and their activation and block
4) The structure of transporters, ion channel receptors and G protein-coupled receptors
5) Radioligand binding
Module assessment
(percentage)
Written examination
(percentage)
List of possible lectures/seminars
Dates of schedule
25% ; Coursework: Radioligand binding data analysis exercise (12.5%) and bioinformatics exercise (12.5%)
75% ; Three hour exam with one data analysis question (30%) and one essay
(45%).
Receptors; early ideas, concentration-response curves
Competitive antagonism I
Irreversible and non-competitive antagonism
Competitive antagonism II
Sodium channel block data analysis exercise
Efficacy, partial agonists
Agonist efficacy; meaning and measurement
Structure and assembly of ligand-gated ion channel receptors
Structure-function relations among ligand-gated ion channel receptors
Receptor structure: G protein coupled receptors
Radioligand binding; theory
Radioligand binding; practical aspects.
Radioligand binding data analysis exercise
Non-linear curve fitting
Algebra revision - optional tutorial
Radioligand binding data analysis: optional tutorial
Structure and function of neurotransmitter transporters
Principles of in vivo drug binding: PET and SPECT
Tutorial (Problem sheets)
Agonist efficacy; single receptor molecule concepts
Agonist efficacy; constitutively active receptors
Structure-function of CFTR and ABC transporters
Molecular mechanism of CFTR and ABC transporters
Principles of the rates of drug action: the rate at which equilibrium is approached
Rates of antagonist action: ion channel block
Tutorial (Problem sheets)
Classical pharmacology in modern drug development
Radioligand binding data analysis: optional tutorial
Term 1: Monday 11:00-1:00 and 2:00-5:00; Wednesday 9:00-11:00
1st Lecture: Wednesday 30th September, 9.00am, Roberts 106,
Lecture Theatre Course material, Lecture Notes and Problem Sheets can

be downloaded from Moodle.