Biophysical Chemistry

Course goals

After completing the course students are able to:

1. Demonstrate a good understanding of concepts in thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, chemistry kinetics and catalysis and apply them in the characterization of biochemical systems and biochemical reactions in aqueous medium.
2. Explain and apply the main principles of quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics and relate these to microscopic and macroscopic descriptions of biochemical systems and processes.
3. Demonstrate a basic understanding of selected spectroscopic methods and their application in biochemistry, biology and medicine.
4. Critically read and interpret a scientific article.
5. Communicate and work collaboratively with peers in a small group setting to critically assess and report on state-of-the-art literature.

Relationship between tests and course goals:

• First individual written exam: this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply the topics and concepts covered in the first part of the course (course goals 1-3)
• Second individual written exam: this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply the topics and concepts covered in the second part of the course (course goals 1-4)
• Literature review and presentation: this tests your ability to collect information about, internalize, apply, and explain sustainability-related problems and/or solutions, and the ability to transfer the knowledge acquired orally and in writing (course goals 5-6)
• Active participation: this tests your preparation and engagement with the course, as well as the ability to elaborate on the theoretical concepts discussed (topics 1-6)

Content

In this course we cover fundamental physical-chemistry principles and their application to the description of biochemical and biological systems. Key topics addressed here include thermodynamics of biochemical systems, enzyme kinetics, and computational and spectroscopic methods in biology and medicine.
We focus on concepts such as intra- and intermolecular bonding, phase equilibrium and chemical potential and use these to explain, for example, how the structure of biological macromolecules largely determines their function, or how the interplay between energy and entropy drives molecular self-assembly and replication. This knowledge, developed at the intersection between chemistry, physics and biology, is necessary to understand phenomena like membrane formation and neuron communication on a fundamental level. It also forms the basis of the development of new enzymes or drugs, for example.
The course is designed with both chemistry and biology students in mind, including those with an interest in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, or pharmacology. Physics and medicine students interested in exploring the fundamental principles underlying biological processes will also find this course very useful.


Format
The course is organized in 3 parts. In the first part we discuss biomolecular structure and function, bioelectrochemistry, and enzyme catalysis. This is followed by a second part where the basic principles of quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics are used as a basis to describe key spectroscopic techniques (e.g. vibrational, rotational, and electronic spectroscopy, NMR and X-Ray diffraction, mass spectrometry) and discuss how these can be used to elucidate the structure and function of biomolecules. In the final part of the course, we will combine the knowledge gathered in parts 1 and 2 and explore the role of spectroscopic techniques and computational tools in many recent applications, unraveling the function of complex biological systems and helping to solve challenging problems in biochemistry, biology, and medicine.