COURSES

Goals

A student is expected to acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of structure-function relationships in proteins. He/she learns how to independently design appropriate experiments and to use different approaches in protein engineering. The student also learns how to exploit various cell systems for studying and understanding the biological roles of proteins of interest and molecular cell mechanisms. General Competences: - The student will master research methods, analytical procedures and molecular biology processes. - Development of a critical and self-critical judgment. - Transfer of the acquired knowledge to practical use. - Individual research work. - Cooperativity and team work in a competitive international research environment. Course Specific Competences: - This course prepares students for practical work on proteins/enzymes in a molecular biology research laboratory. - The course provides a good background for work in an appropriate semi-industrial laboratory.

Curriculum

- Protein engineering: historical view, basic concepts and terms, rational design and directed evolution. - Mutagenesis: various approaches and common techniques. - Unlimited potential of cell engineering. - Use of various protein tags and markers. - Design of site-directed mutations on a selected protein molecule. - Introduction of mutation(s) at the nucleotide level. - Production of a mutant recombinant protein and its basic characterization. - Preparation of a selected labeled protein in mammalian cells. - Analysis of the obtained results. - Preparation of a final seminar work.