Membrane biophysics
Code: 101899 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2501230 Biomedical Sciences | OT | 4 | 0 |
Contact
- Name:
- Ramón Barnadas Rodríguez
- Email:
- Ramon.Barnadas@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Ramón Barnadas Rodríguez
- Alex Peralvarez Marin
Prerequisites
General concepts related to physiology and biochemistry.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Study of the components of biological membranes and their molecular organization.
Structural and dynamic features of the two main components of biological membranes: lipids and proteins, establishing the links between their molecular structure and physiological functions and possible associated pathologies.
Unravel the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction through cellular envelopes or the transport of molecules across biological membranes.
Methods and techniques used for the study of biomembranes.
Competences
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Display knowledge of the basic life processes on several levels of organisation: molecular, cellular, tissues, organs, individual and populations.
- Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Work as part of a group with members of other professions, understanding their viewpoint and establishing a constructive collaboration.
Learning Outcomes
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Analyse the molecular mechanisms of compartmented intracellular transport by means of molecular motors and of their extrapolation to cell and tissue motility.
- Identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms for transporting different types of substances (lipids, gases, metals) between tissues.
- Identify the molecular principles that are common to the selective transport of substances through the plasma membrane and their regulation.
- Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Work as part of a group with members of other professions, understanding their viewpoint and establishing a constructive collaboration.
Content
MEMBRANE BIOPHYSICS*
1. LIPIDS
1.1. Introduction. Overview of lipid classification.
1.2. Structure and function relationship of the different types of lipids.
1.3. Lipid properties and study techniques.
1.3.1. Hydrocarbon chains.
1.3.2. Interfacial region.
1.3.3. Polar head.
1.4. Lipid polymorphism. Study techniques.
1.4.1. Properties of lipid aggregates at the nanometric range.
1.4.2. Type, preparation and applications of lipid aggregates.
1.4.3. Liposomes, micelles, bicelles.
2. MEMBRANE PROTEINS
2.1. Classification of membrane proteins.
2.2. Modifications of membrane proteins.
2.3. Structural principles and topology of membrane proteins.
2.4. Biogenesis and folding of membrane proteins.
2.5. Experimental and computational techniques for the study of membrane proteins:
2.5.1 Expression, analysis, purification and characterization of membrane proteins.
2.5.2 Interaction of membrane proteins with biological membranes.
3. SPECIALIZED SEMINARS PERFORMED BY STUDENTS
* Unless the requirements enforced by the health authorities demand a prioritization or reduction of these contents.
Methodology
The theory classes will be in complete groups.*
There will be seminars in which students will present individually or in small groups, subjects related to different aspects of the structure and function of the biological membranes.
Attendance at the seminars will be monitored, and the mark obtained will be considered only when attendance is equal to or greater than 80 % of the seminars.
The practical classes will consist of 2 laboratory sessions:
1.- Obtaining phospholipid / surfactant phase diagram (4 hours).
2.- Quantification of the entrapment of a hydrophilic molecule into liposomes (4 hours).
* The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.
Note: 15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the center/degree, for the complementation by the students of the surveys for the evaluation of the the teachers and subject/module.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Master class with IT support | 35 | 1.4 | 2, 3, 4, 12 |
| Seminars regarding subject main topics. Discussion of topics. | 7 | 0.28 | 3, 4, 12 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Laboratory practical sessions | 8 | 0.32 | |
| Tutoring sessions | 6 | 0.24 | 3, 12 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Autonomous study | 53 | 2.12 | 3 |
| Bibliography search and seminar preparation | 30 | 1.2 | 3, 4 |
| Deliverables | 2 | 0.08 |
Assessment
The evaluation will consist of four parts that make up a continuous evaluation process which includes:*
a) two partial exams of the theoretical knowledge subject (70%).
b) the laboratory practices (14%).
c) the works proposed throughout the course (10%).
d) the seminars (6 %), in the case of complying with the assistance indicated in Methodology (equal to or greater than 80 % of the seminars).
A minimum passing grade of 4 in each one of the two theoretical exams is required to pass the subject.
Students who have not passed some of them will take a new exam about of the parts not passed.
Students who want to upload the grade can take a global exam of the whole subject, which will provide the final grade.
Test
The exams will combine multi-choice test questions (60%) with short questions (40%) about the master classes.
Laboratory practices will be evaluated by a report (14%).
In relation to the evaluation of works to be delivered throughout the course and a bioinformatic work supervised with a questionnaire that must also be submitted (10% of the final grade).
The seminars will be evaluated based on the work presented by the student (6% of the final grade).
Final mark
Weighted mean of a) to d). To pass the subject the overall mark should be 5.0 or higher.
Exam Review
On-demand exam reviewing will be done individually with the student.
* Student’s assessment may experience some modifications dependingon the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of deliverables | 10% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 11, 2, 4, 5, 10, 9, 8, 6, 7 |
| Evaluation of oral presentations | 6% | 3 | 0.12 | 3, 4, 12 |
| Evaluation of practical sessions | 14% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 11, 4, 5, 10, 9, 8, 6, 7, 12 |
| Evaluation of theoretical knowledge. Short answer test and multiple-choice test. | 70% (Multiple-choice 60% + Short-answer 40%) | 3 | 0.12 | 3, 12 |
Bibliography
Research articles that are part of the teaching materials.
Software
UCSF Chimera
https://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/
VMD (Visual Molecular Dynamics)
https://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/