SubjectsSubjects(version: 978)
Course, academic year 2025/2026
   
Biophysical chemistry II - experimental methods - MC260P45
Title: Biofyzikální chemie II - experimentální metody
Czech title: Biofyzikální chemie II - experimentální metody
Guaranteed by: Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry (31-260)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Actual: from 2024
Semester: summer
E-Credits: 4
Examination process: summer s.:
Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/1, Ex [HT]
Capacity: unlimited
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Additional information: http://www.natur.cuni.cz/chemie/fyzchem
Note: enabled for web enrollment
priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
Guarantor: prof. RNDr. Tomáš Obšil, Ph.D.
Teacher(s): prof. RNDr. Tomáš Obšil, Ph.D.
Class: MALDI-TOF MS Systém
Annotation -
This lecture builds on and expands upon the lecture Biophysical Chemistry I (MC260P44). The main focus is on advanced methods of studying and interpreting the structure and function of biopolymers, in particular X-ray structural analysis (diffraction theory and methods of solving the phase problem), SAXS, NMR, cryo-electron microscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation, microcalorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, and selected methods of mass spectrometry.
Last update: Obšil Tomáš, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. (09.01.2026)
Literature - Czech

ZÁKLADNÍ (povinná):
Kodíček, M., Karpenko, V.: Biofysikální chemie, Academia, Praha, 2000.
Prosser V. a kol.: Experimentální metody biofyziky, Academia, Praha, 1989.

Studijní materiály (prezentace z přednášek) jsou dostupné v systému Moodle UK.

DOPORUČENÁ:
Bergethon, P. R.: The Physical Basis of Biochemistry, Springer Verl., 2010.
Cantor, C.R., Schimmel, P.R.: Biophysical Chemistry I-III, W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco 1980.
Allen, J.P.: Biophysical Chemistry, Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
Cooper, A.: Biophysical Chemistry, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2004.

Last update: Obšil Tomáš, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. (26.06.2014)
Requirements to the exam - Czech

Forma zkoušky: ústní zkoušení v rozsahu přednášené látky.

Last update: Obšil Tomáš, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. (09.01.2026)
Syllabus -

1. Basic overview and comparison of methods for studying the structure of biopolymers.
2. Protein structure.
3. Protein crystallization, crystal description, crystallographic symmetry, crystal systems, basic unit, asymmetric unit.
4. Diffraction theory. Diffraction on a single electron. Diffraction on an atom. Definition of atomic scattering factor. Definition of structural factor.
5. Diffraction theory. Derivation of diffraction (Laue) conditions. Reciprocal lattice. Ewald construction. Phase problem. 
6. Solution of the phase problem. Patterson map and determination of the position of heavy atoms. Principles of MIR, SIR, SAD, MAD methods. Principle of the molecular replacement method.
7. Processing and analysis of diffraction data. Construction of a structure model. Methods of structure refinement. Analysis of the structural model.
8. Principle of NMR, 2D NMR. COSY and NOESY measurements. Principle of obtaining structural information from NMR data. 
9. Cryo-electron microscopy and its use in the biophysical chemistry of proteins.
10. Methods of analytical ultracentrifugation. Methods of sedimentation rates and sedimentation equilibrium.
11. Microcalorimetry. Isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry.
12. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
13. SAXS - small-angle X-ray scattering.
14. Selected MS methods (chemical cross-linking, HDX-MS).

Last update: Obšil Tomáš, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. (09.01.2026)
Learning outcomes -

After successfully completing the course, students will:

1. Characterize the basic methods of studying the structure of biopolymers and compare their suitability for different types of biomolecules.
2. Describe the structure of proteins and explain the relationship between their structure and function.
3. Explain the principles of protein crystallization, characterize crystals, crystallographic symmetry, crystal systems, and asymmetric units.
4. Explain the theoretical basis of diffraction, including electron and atom diffraction, atomic scattering factor, and structural factor.
5. Derive Laue's diffraction conditions, describe the concept of reciprocal lattice and Ewald construction.
6. Describe the phase problem in crystallography and compare methods for solving it (Patterson map, MIR, SIR, SAD, MAD, molecular replacement).
7. Understand the principles of processing and analyzing diffraction data, building a protein structure model, including methods for refining and evaluating model quality.
8. Explain the principles of NMR spectroscopy, including 2D NMR (COSY and NOESY) for obtaining structural information.
9. Explain the principle of cryo-electron microscopy and assess its use in the study of protein structures.
10. Describe the principles of analytical ultracentrifugation, sedimentation rates, and sedimentation equilibrium, and interpret the results of experiments.
11. Explain the principles of microcalorimetry, isothermal titration calorimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry and their use in the analysis of thermodynamic parameters of biochemical interactions.
12. Describe the principles of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and SAXS and indicate their use in the study of biomolecular interactions and structures.
13. Characterize selected methods of mass spectrometry (chemical cross-linking, HDX-MS) and evaluate their contribution to structural biology.
14. Integrate knowledge from various experimental methods for interpreting complex structural data of biopolymers.

Last update: Obšil Tomáš, prof. RNDr., Ph.D. (09.01.2026)
 
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