Engenharia Biomolecular

Objectives

The main objective of the Biomolecular Engineering curricular unit is to learn the fundamental concepts and applications of Biomolecular Engineering, based on the Structural and Functional Biology of Proteins and Nucleic Acids, and Biopharmaceutical Delivery. The following objectives should be progressively achieved throughout the course: i) Learning the fundamental concepts of Protein Engineering and Nucleic Acid Engineering; ii) Identifying the main strategies used in Biomolecular Engineering; iii) Demonstrating the ability to illustrate each of the main strategies in Biomedicine and Biotechnology, with examples of promising technologies published in international scientific journals. Additionally, the program is supplemented with thematic seminars conducted by invited experts and students to achieve the established objectives.

Syllabus

- Hierarchical structure of proteins. Techniques for structure determination. - Protein folding and stability. Classical models and folding funnel theory. In vivo and in vitro protein folding. Structural stability. Proteins and intrinsically disordered regions.Protein misfolding and aggregation. - Protein design and re-design. Directed evolution. - Case studies in protein engineering (enzymes, antibodies, fluorescent proteins, opsins, etc). - Nucleic acid structure. Non-canonical base pairing. Secondary structures. Functions of triplexes and quadruplexes. - DNA-protein and DNA-drug interactions. - Design, synthesis, and selection of xenonucleic acids, aptamers, DNAzymes, DNA machines, and nucleic acid nanostructures (DNA origami, nanoLEGOlogy). - Strategies to enhance the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of biopharmaceuticals. - Theranostics

Prerequisites

Basic concepts in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cross Competence Component

The UC allows the development of transversal competences on Critical Thinking, namely strategic thinking and problem solving approaches, within the flash and paper presentations and laboratory work and reports; Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills (oral, organizational and teamwork, self-discipline, perseverance, self-motivation skills - within the flash and paper presentations and laboratory work and reports); and Information and Media Literacy (ability to locate and access information, as well as to analyze and evaluate media content - within the flash and paper presentations and laboratory work and reports). The assessment percentage associated with these competences should be around 10%.

Laboratorial Component

Laboratory work will be conducted using techniques to illustrate the relationship between structure and function in proteins and nucleic acids, as well as the production and characterization of nanoparticles.

Programming And Computing Component

Use of computational tools (e.g., PyMOL) and databases (e.g., PDB, Uniprot)

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work In any assessment every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be alble to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.