Chemistry: Structural Biochemistry

Education facts

Code: KEMM35

<p>Protein interactions are essential for understanding how cells work and these interactions can only be studied by working with the proteins themselves. Dive into the molecular level of the cell and learn more about protein structure and its connection to biological function.</p><p>KEMM35. The overall aim of the course is for the student to acquire an in-depth understanding of proteins, with an emphasis on their three-dimensional structures, the connection of structures to biological function and how these structures are produced. The course covers both the principles that determine the properties of proteins and the most important experimental methods used to study them in modern molecular protein science, such as X-ray crystallography, low-angle X-ray scattering and cryo-electron microscopy. How structural information about proteins can be used to develop better drugs is also discussed.</p> <h2>Course content</h2> <p><em>Lectures</em></p> <ul> <li>Polypeptide conformations</li> <li>Secondary and three-dimensional structures of proteins, structural classes and structure databases</li> <li>Prediction and modelling of protein structure</li> <li>The stability, dynamics and interaction of proteins</li> <li>Ligand bonding and structure-based design of drugs</li> <li>Principles of X-ray crystallography and other methods such as cryo-electron microscopy, Small Angle X-ray scattering, neutron scattering</li> </ul> <p><em>Practical components</em></p> <ul> <li>Exercises in relevant computer-based methods to study protein structures and dynamics</li> <li>Searching in sequence and structure databases, and modelling of proteins of unknown structure</li> <li>Exercises in all critical stages of a typical structure determination using X-ray crystallography: crystallisation, data collection, data processing, structure determination, model construction, refinement and validation</li> <li>Basic exercises using other experimental methods. A number of exercises are carried out as demonstrations</li> </ul>

Entry requirements

To be admitted to the course, students must meet the general entry requirements for higher education and requirements for English proficiency corresponding to English 6 from Swedish upper secondary school, and have passed 90 credits in science courses including courses equivalent to: KEMA20 General Chemistry 15 credits, or KEMA10 General Chemistry 7.5 credits and KEMA12 Inorganic Chemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits, KEMA01 Organic Chemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits and KEMA03 Biochemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits, and MOBA02 Chemistry of the Cell 15 credits Students who have obtained the equivalent knowledge by other means may also be admitted to the course.

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• Chemistry: Structural Biochemistry

  Lund University

  Start date: 2 November 2026

  End date: 17 January 2027

  Pace of study: 100 %