This course enables student to acquire fundamental knowledge on structure, properties, and functions of biopolymers such as proteins, nucleic acids, and related substances, the physic-chemical understanding of which are deepened by learning some related polymer science at the same time. Intra- and intermolecular interactions of biopolymers in aqueous systems (electrostatic, hydrogen-bonded, and van der Waals interactions, and hydrophobic effects) are first taken in the class to prepare a firm ground to understand the bio-polymeric system. As for the polymer science topics which are used as subsidiary matters, the higher-order structural formation of polypeptides is paired wit proteins, ordered assembly of polyelectrolytes with nucleic acids, hydrogel formation with polysaccharides, and membrane transport with lipids.
It has been mankind dream to mimic the excellent functional performance of biopolymers in vivo by synthetic polymer systems. Recently, it has been partly realized by development of “biomimetic” or “bioinspired” materials, nevertheless it is still extraordinarily challenging matter. In the course toward the relevant advances area of students who 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 water and lipids.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain variation and structure of components of proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.
2) Explain how the intra- and intermolecular interactions are involved with the structure and functional performance of proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.
3) Explain variation and structure of lipids and properties of bilayer membrane.
4) Explain variation and properties of enzymes and the reaction mechanisms.
electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond, van der Waals interaction, hydrophobic effect, higher order structure, ordered assembly, hydrogel formation, Michaelis-Menten mechanism
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Each class is conducted by using relevant materials which are available from OCW-i. A 15 or 20 minutes exam and the explanation will be given at the end of each class. At the beginning of the next class, further explanations may be added depending on the students’ understanding.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Interactions of biopolymers in an aqueous phase | Explain the interactions in an aqueous phase |
Class 2 | Amino acids, peptides, and proteins | Explain the relation between the amino acid structures and proteins (or peptides) conformation in terms of the relevant interactions. |
Class 3 | Nucleic acids -Structural stabilization based on duplex formation- | Explain interactions contributed to stabilization of the duplex formation. |
Class 4 | Polymerization of biopolymers in vivo -transcription and translation- | Explain the mechanisms of the synthesis of DNAs and proteins in vivo. |
Class 5 | Polysaccharides -Functions and gel formation- | Explain how the structure and the function of polysaccharides are derived from varieties of monosaccharides and the intermolecular interactions. |
Class 6 | Lipids -Functions and membrane transport- | Explain the variation, the determinant factors for the assembly, and the membrane transport mechanisms. |
Class 7 | Enzymes -Molecular recognition-based selective chemical reactions- | Explain the variation of enzymes 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 |
John E. McMurry Organic Chemistry 8th edition ISBN-13: 978-0840054449 John E. McMurry Organic Chemistry 9th edition ISBN-13:
978-0073402741
Those reference materials are available at OCW-i.
Students' knowledge on the fundamental structures and properties of biomolecules, and the relation with the various interactions are assessed. 15minutes exams (20%) + final exam (80%)
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.