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BMB/Bi/Chem 170abc Biochemistry and Biophysics of Macromolecules and Molecular Assemblies
9 units (3-1-5); first, second, third terms

Prerequisites: Bi/Ch 110. First term: detailed analysis of the structures of the four classes of biological molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates) and the forces that shape them. Introduction to molecular biological and visualization techniques. Energetic principles and molecular mechanism of enzymatic catalysis. Practical kinetic techniques. Second term: basic principles of modern biophysical and structural methods to interrogate macromolecules from the atomic to cellular levels, including X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, electron and light microscopy, AFM, single molecule techniques, and systems biological simulations. Third term: detailed analysis of specific macromolecular machines and systems that illustrate the principles and biophysical methods taught in the first two terms. Instructors: Clemons, Jensen, Shan, staff.