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2017　Biopolymer

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Academic unit or major
Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Instructor(s)
Satoh Mitsuru 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Fri7-8(S422)  
Group
-
Course number
CAP.P342
Credits
1
Academic year
2017
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2017/3/17
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
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Course description and aims

This course enables students to acquire fundamental knowledge on structures, properties, and functions of biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids and other related substances, the physico-chemical understanding of which are deepened by learning some related polymer science topics at the same time. Properties of water as a main solvent for the biopolymers, interactions in aqueous systems (van der Waals, hydrogen bond, electrostatic and hydrophobic ones) and the relevant hydrations are first taken in the class to prepare a firm ground to understand the biopolymer world. As for the polymer science topics which are used as subsidiary matters, the coil-helix transition of polypeptides is paired with protein, counterion binding phenomenon of polyelectrolytes with the nuceic acid, gel formation with polysaccharides and membrane transport with lipids.

It has been a mankind dream to mimic the excellent functional performance of biopolymers in vivo by synthetic polymer systems. In some fields, it has been partly realized by "Bio-mimetic" material development, nevertheless it is a still highly challenging matter. In the course toward the relevant advanced area of students who have studied fundamental polymer science, they could obtain many valuables from the biopolymers. Students in this course should comprehend that the remarkable functionalities of biopolymers never emerge in vacuo but are effected via interactions with small molecules such as water and lipids.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain the origin of the unique properties of liquid water, variation of hydration, and interactions via the relevant hydration.
2) Explain variation and structure of components of proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.
3) Explain how the intermolecular interactions are involved with the structure and functional performance of proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.
4) Explain variation and structure of lipids and properties of bilayer membrane.
5) Explain variation and properties of enzymes and the reaction mechanisms.

Keywords

van der Waals interaction, hydrogen bond, electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, coil-helix transition, counterion binding, gellation, solution-diffusion mechanism, Michaelis-Menten mechanism

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Each class is conducted by using relevant materials which are available from OCW-i. A 15 minutes exam and the explanation will be given at the end of each class. At the beginning of the next class, the marked answer sheels will be returned and some further explanations may be added depending on the students' understanding.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Water - Interactions in aqueous polymer systems - 　※Properties of water and variety of interactions Explain the origin of water properties and variety of interactions in water
Class 2 Hydrations - Effects on the polymer properties and interactions - 　※Variety of hydrations and interactions via hydration Explain variety of interactions and the difference of those in water and vacuo.
Class 3 Proteins - Structures and the coil-helix transition - ※Variety of amino acids and the higher structures of protein, Cooperative transition Explain the relation between the amino acid structure and the protein conformation in terms of the relevant interactions.
Class 4 Nucleic acids - Structures and counterion binding phenomenon - 　※Constituting units and stabilization of the double helix structure Explain interactions which contribute to stabilization of the double helix.
Class 5 Polysaccharides - Functionality and Gellation - ※Variation, structure and properties of mono-, di- and poly-saccharides Explain how the structure and the function of polysaccharides are derived from varieties of monosaccharides and the intermolecular interactions.
Class 6 Lipids - Function and membrane transport - 　※Variation and assembly, Membrane transport mechanism Explain the variation, the determinant factors for the assembly formation, and the membrane transport mechanism.
Class 7 Enzymes - Mechanisms for catalytic and inhibitory reactions - 　※Variation and functionality, Competitive and uncompetitive inhibitions Explain the variation of enzyme and the mechanisms of catalytic and inhibitory reactions.
Class 8 Final exercise and term-end test Total understanding of biopolymers on the basis of intermolecular interactions

Textbook(s)

N/A

Reference books, course materials, etc.

C.K.Mathews et al.Biochemistry(Nishimura) ISBN:4-89013-307-0 (Japanese), T.McKee & J.R.McKee Biochemistry (Kagaku-dojin) ISBN:4-7598-0944-9 (Japanese), H.R.Horton et al, Principles of Biochemistry (Tokyo Kagaku-dojin) ISBN:4-8079-0575-9 (Japanese), D.Voet & J.G.Voet Biochemistry (Tokyo Kagaku-dojin) ISBN:4-8079-0360-8 (Japanese)
Those reference materials are available at OCW-i.

Assessment criteria and methods

Students' knowledge on the fundamental structures and properties of biomolecules, and the relation with the various interactions are assessed. 15minutes exams (30%) + final exam (70%)

Related courses

  • Every kinds of physical chemistries

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

It is desirable that students have taken the following classes; Physical Chemistry I - III, Polymer Physics I - IV, Polymer Chemistry I -IV, Advanced Polymer Science I,II.

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