Syllabus of PHYS4313/PHYS5110.368
Molecular Biophysics
Fall 2012
Oklahoma State University
Instructor:
Professor Aihua Xie
Time:
TBA (Possible times: MW 8:30-9:45 or MW 4:00-5:15pm) (If you are not available in
one of these timeslots, please email the instructor at Aihua.xie@okstate.edu asap.)
Locations:
TBA (Lectures) & 220D HBRC for FT-IR Studies of Proteins
Contact Info: Tel: 405 744-6589; Office: 230B HBRC; E-mail: phys4313@okstate.edu
Webpage:
http://physics.okstate.edu/axie/courses/4313/2012fall/index.html
Description: “Virtually every property that characterizes a living organism is affected by proteins.”
This course is designed to engage students to explore the wonderland of proteins and to conduct
biophysical studies of proteins. The course plan is outlined below.
Topics
What Is Life?
Getting to know proteins
How to investigate proteins?*
Bioinformatics of proteins
Content
Time
Organization, molecular basis, biological energy & evolution
~1.0 weeks
Protein synthesis, folding, function/malfunction, & degradation
~1.5 weeks
Ask questions, select/develop tools, progresses, disputes, …
2.5 weeks
What is bioinformatics and how to use bioinformatics?
1 week
How to watch proteins in action?
Infrared spectroscopy and infrared structural biology
2.5 weeks
Research! Study proteins in action
Select problems, design experiments, perform measurements…
3.0 weeks
Write a manuscript for publication
Together, prepare and submit a manuscript for publication
2.5 weeks
Pick a topic, prepare a presentation based on literature studies
Pre-final
week
Presentation
*Learn by examples, we will use photoactive yellow protein (PYP) as an example.
Pre-requisite: General Physics I & II. Knowledge on organic chemistry and biochemistry are preferred
but not required.
References (reserved in the Edmon Low Library):
(1) What is life? (Erwin Schrödinger, providing inspiration to generations of bio-scientists)
(Cambridge University Press)
(2) The Physics of Proteins (Hans Frauenfelder, Springer)
(3) THE CELL (5th edition, Bruce Alberts et al, Garland Science)
(4) PROTEINS-Structures and Molecular Properties (2nd edition, Thomas E. Creighton, W.H.
Freeman and Company)