結構生物學(一)

This course is designed to introduce the structure biology. Since 2000-2015, after human genome project, USA once again executed a huge scientific project. Now it is “Structure Genomics”. The project established several huge structure genomic center such as Northeast Structure Genomic Center (NESG). Their duty is very simple; i.e., trying to solve the protein structures as more as we can, no matter what their functions are. They believe that when we get lots of the structures, we can learn the function towards structures. No doubt, after 15 years’ efforts now we have at least 100,000 structures. Until now, each year there are still at least 10,000 solved structures published on protein data bank. The big data of “Structure of Macromolecules” has formed. Towards these data, now we can understand the detailed mechanism of macromolecules, such as biomolecular interactions, interactome, enzymatic catalysis, and medicine (protein drugs).

The aim of this class is to give students the basic concept of structure biology, including primary to quaternary structures and the methodology of this field. Only understanding the basic and tools, students are able to know how to do the structure research. We believe that understanding the structure and then designing what we need (protein engineering, drug design) is still one of the most important research fields of the next 50 years.

reports, 50%; exam, 50%

1. Introduction to Proteins: Structure, Function, and Motion (2011) Amit Kessel & Nir Ben-Tal 2. Textbook of Structural Biology (2009) Anders Liljas et al. 3. Biochemistry (Reginald H. Garrett & Charles M. Grisham)