Branch programme/details

Postgraduate study in Bioorganic Chemistry serves for the education of chemical experts with emphasis on the structure and functions of small organic molecules in living organisms, and on the possibility of influencing biological processes in these organisms through the action of such molecules. The programme is thus directed towards the study of all aspects of organic compounds, which are indispensable for the structure and functioning of living organisms. The broad spectrum of these compounds includes molecules with a building (primary metabolites) function, signaling function, activating or deactivating function in relationship to strategic proteins with in the living organisms, and also compounds, which are produced by these organisms (natural products, secondary metabolites, metabolites of xenobiotics). The study is founded on the structure and synthesis of organic compounds with a focus on natural products, heterocycles and other organic compounds, which are capable of modulating biological processes. Elucidation of the function of such compounds as parts of biological structures as well as that of their influence on biological processes and possibility to modify this influence through structural changes are no less important. Bioorganic Chemistry thus serves as a link between Organic Chemistry and biomedical disciplines, and partially overlaps with Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry. Bioorganic Chemistry is, however, more general than the latter two programmes, which are primarily focused on the study and development of drugs, ie. a more limited subgroup of biologically active compounds.