Course detail
Biophysical Chemistry
FCH-DC_BFCHAcad. year: 2020/2021
The course deals with the application of physical chemistry to biological and biochemical processes and problems. It contains the following parts, which the student chooses according to the topic of the dissertation.
Biothermodynamics: energetics of biological processes, Gibbs energy and its significance for the description of biochemical processes, connections with enthalpy and entropy, application to the fate of ATP in the organism, basics of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Kinetics of biological processes: enzyme reactions, denaturation and renaturation of proteins, pharmacokinetics. Non-covalent interactions in biological systems: types of interactions, spatial arrangement of biopolymers, their stability and denaturation, interactions with ligands. Biological membranes: amphiphilic biomolecules, structure and properties of membranes, transport across membranes. Water and hydration: structure and properties of water, water as a biological environment, hydration of biopolymers. Biological polyelectrolytes: dissociation, acid-base properties, effect of pH.
Supervisor
Learning outcomes of the course unit
Not applicable.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites
Co-requisites
Not applicable.
Recommended optional programme components
Not applicable.
Recommended or required reading
Kodíček, M.; Karpenko, V. Biofysikální chemie. Praha: Academia, 2013 (CS)
Haynie, D.T. Biological Thermodynamics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. (CS)
Atkins, P.; de Paula, J. Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006 (CS)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Not applicable.
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
Study results are verified by a colloquium (Study and Examination Rules of BUT, Art. 34), which means a discussion on the subject matter, connected with the elaboration of a written work dealing with the assigned subject matter in the range of about 20 text pages; the debate lasts about 30 minutes.
Language of instruction
Czech
Work placements
Not applicable.
Course curriculum
The course deals with the application of physical chemistry to biological and biochemical processes and problems. It contains the following parts, which the student chooses according to the topic of the dissertation.
Biothermodynamics: energetics of biological processes, Gibbs energy and its significance for the description of biochemical processes, connections with enthalpy and entropy, application to the fate of ATP in the organism, basics of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Kinetics of biological processes: enzyme reactions, denaturation and renaturation of proteins, pharmacokinetics. Non-covalent interactions in biological systems: types of interactions, spatial arrangement of biopolymers, their stability and denaturation, interactions with ligands. Biological membranes: amphiphilic biomolecules, structure and properties of membranes, transport across membranes. Water and hydration: structure and properties of water, water as a biological environment, hydration of biopolymers. Biological polyelectrolytes: dissociation, acid-base properties, effect of pH.
Aims
Not applicable.
eLearning
eLearning: currently opened course