? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 11  ? Acronym : BIO-P-PSD

This course will provide a hands-on approach in protein structure determination. Students will be given a data set of X-ray diffraction images and the structure of a protein will be determined by molecular replacement. For a major part of the course, students will use state-of-the-art computer software to determine the protein structure themselves. An introduction to each session will be given and the students will work on the various tasks independently; supervision will be provided ad hoc. The course will be accompanied by the X-ray crystallography seminars within the department.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Entry to the course will be for students already holding (or expecting to hold) an Honours degree or equivalent in a biological subject such as biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, pharmacology. Students with a background in chemistry, physics, computer science or informatics will also be considered and those with other scientific or medical backgrounds should contact the Course Director

? Co-requisites : A knowledge of the UNIX II operating system is essential.

? Costs : None

Home subject area

Postgraduate, (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Monday 13:10 14:50 KB

Overall: a working knowledge of the crystallographic software in current use for protein crystal structure determination (i.e. the CCP4 package).
Specifically: crystal preparation and X-ray data collection
space-group determination and data reduction
methods for phase determination
electron density map calculation and interpretation
model building and refinement

1. Prepared seminar (20%)
2. Written examination at the end of the course (i.e. in December Wk 12 or 13) (80%)

Exam times

Diet Diet Month Paper Code Paper Name Length 1ST December 1 Protein Structure Determination 2 hour(s)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Ms Ellen Glendinning
Tel : (0131 6)50 7366
Email : ellen.glendinning@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Prof Lindsay Sawyer
Tel : (0131 6)50 7045/7062
Email : L.Sawyer@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/