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LSC-30016 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

LSC-30016 - Structural Biology & Macromolecular Function
Coordinator: Trevor Greenhough Room: HUX202 Tel: +44 1782 7 33405
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

Advances in biotechnology, biology and biomedicine, and their impact on the quality of life, the economy, medicine and health care increasingly depend on the application of structural biology which provides detailed three-dimensional structural information at the atomic level of the proteins which are central to all life processes. While structural biology includes a variety of different techniques such as crystallography and electron microscopy, this module concentrates on the outcomes of these techniques rather than the techniques themselves, with in-depth analysis of how proteins, enzymes and viruses recognise and bind their targets, and how detailed structural information is used to intervene in or enhance these processes. An important aspect of health and well being in all forms of life is the ability to prevent, resist, fight and recover from infection and disease, and much of the module concentrates on how an increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved provides a unique opportunity for the design of potential diagnostic and therapeutic agents and strategies.

Aims
The aims of this module are to show how our knowledge and understanding of biological function and the molecular basis of disease are enhanced and underpinned by detailed structural information and to develop skills in the evaluation of published scientific literature.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe and critically discuss examples of the contribution of structural information to our understanding of the molecular basis of disease: 2
describe and critically discuss the importance and uses of structural information in the detailed investigation of some or all of enzyme function, DNA recognition, tumorigenic mutations, cell signalling, recognition in innate immunity, virus architecture and pathogenicity, structure and function in adaptive immunity, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis: 2
describe and critically discuss examples of the uses of structural information in the design of therapeutic agents: 2
search for, select and retrieve information from the scientific databases and literature: 1,2
abstract, synthesise, integrate and critically evaluate information from the scientific literature: 1,2
describe and critically discuss examples of the relationship of protein structure to its function: 1,2

Study hours

12 Hours Live sessions (demonstrations, seminars, tutorials, discussions)
58 hours engagement with asynchronous content
40 Hours research and completion of in-course report
40 Hours research and completion of Coursework assessment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 50%
Report 1500-2000 words
Early in the module students are given the reference of a published scientific paper in structural biology. They are expected to find this paper on the web of knowledge (WOK) or through the Keele electronic on-line Journal facility and to write a short summary of its major findings. Students then locate other published papers in the same scientific field through the WOK, choose 5 of these to study, and discuss briefly how each of these relates scientifically to each other and to the original article. Based on the available objective evidence, including the number of citations of each paper and the impact factor of the journals, students then estimate and discuss the relative importance and impact in the field of both the original paper and the 5 additional papers. The completed report is to be submitted via the KLE (Turnitin).

2: Coursework weighted 50%
Coursework - one 1500 word essay from a choice of two
Two essay titles will be released on the KLE at 9am. Students will be required to submit one 1500 essay from the choice of two through Turnitin before 1pm on a date in the Semester 1 assessment period. The essay titles will both reflect the core module content but at a higher level which demands integration and analysis of different course topics with additional input from the literature.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023