Biochemistry BSc

This project aims to give students the ability to analyse a relevant biological problem in-depth in a modern research environment. There will be three different approaches available including the opportunity to research a laboratory-based project on a topic related to the interests of academic staff, a group-lab based project with outcomes to be decided by the student or an individual topic of interest with an in-depth literary survey of its background. There will be two days a week of project work.

This module covers the use of various biochemical and molecular biological analytical techniques employed in clinical diagnosis, as well as the development of new molecular therapies based on modern biochemical and molecular biological techniques. By the end of the module you will understand the scientific basis behind a variety of molecular medical diagnostics and the methods for the development of new molecular therapies. The module is assessed by a two-hour essay based exam. 

Students should gain a good appreciation of the applications for a range of enzymological, chemical and molecular biological techniques to probe cellular processes and catalysis at the forefront in chemical biology research.

This module represents a culmination of principles and techniques from a biophysical, molecular, biochemical and genetic perspective.

This module will introduce you to advanced ideas about aspects of cellular and molecular immunology. You will learn about innate and humoral immunity and how humans can mount defence against infections from agents such as the HIV and diseases such as asthma. In addition you will find out about the major proteins involved and the genes coding for some of the proteins will be discussed. There will be two hours of lectures a week.

The module covers the molecular biology of:

(a) natural CRISPR immunity systems and how these are applied for genome editing,

(b) host-pathogen interactions, for example cell envelope structure and how bacterial toxins cause disease, and,

(c) the role of bacteria in the human gut microbiome.

This course aims to explain the background and rationale for the development of bioinformatics and computational biology. It will reveal the scope and role of bioinformatics resources and how they underpin scientific research globally, and illustrate the expedience of bioinformatics tools in molecular and cellular biochemistry research. Students will gain direct experience of using bioinformatics tools to process and interpret biological data

This module focuses on the molecular mechanisms that produce force and movement in cellular systems. The material is approached from a molecular viewpoint and builds from individual molecules to explain how the cast of molecular characters interact to support movement at the molecular, cellular and tissue level.

Force and movement in cells is supported by the cytoskeleton, a complex network of proteinaceous filaments. Like the human bone skeleton, the cytoskeleton provides a scaffold to maintain cell shape and a platform from which force and movement is generated. Unlike the bone skeleton, the cytoskeleton is highly dynamic: filaments form, break down and reform within seconds to meet the requirements of the cell.

A cytoskeleton is present in all domains of life. This module will cover the 3 major classes of cytoskeletal filament: microtubules, actin and intermediate filaments. You will learn about the molecular components of these filaments, how they self-assemble, how their dynamics are regulated and how they support movement over length scales from the molecular to the tissue level.

The cytoskeleton is a major dug target particularly in cancer therapy. This module will cover drugs that modulate the cytoskeleton and how they are used both as therapeutics and as research tools. We will also cover pathogens that hijack the cytoskeleton to invade and proliferate in mammalian cells.

To develop an understanding of the components and function of cytoskeletal systems and how the cytoskeleton underpins movement of and within cells. To understand the molecular mechanisms driving cytoskeleton activity. To understand the role of the cytoskeleton in the context of health and disease and the role of cytoskeleton targeting drugs as therapeutics.

This module covers the life history of proteins from birth (synthesis) to death (degradation), and how this goes wrong in common diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.

On this journey, other major aspects of protein development, distribution and death will be discussed at a molecular level including:

• protein folding
  
• the cytoskeleton
• protein and vesicle trafficking including endocytosis, post-translational modification and protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy.

You will cover fundamental aspects of molecular cell biology that are essential for health and disease and will explain both normal protein life and what goes wrong in common diseases where defects in these processes are the root cause of pathology.

Study modern ideas surrounding tumourigenesis and tumour progression. The first part of the course covers our current understanding of the molecular basis of tumour progression. Following lectures will focus both on research into the fundamentals of cancer biology and the biochemical basis for the treatment of patients with cancer.

This module covers some of the more modern ideas surrounding tumourigenesis and tumour progression. The first part of the course will cover our current understanding of the molecular basis of tumour progression. Following lectures will focus both on research into the fundamentals of cancer biology and the biochemical basis for the treatment of patients with cancer. The following features will be included:

1. The role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes in normal and tumour cells.
2. Multistep tumourigenesis and the hallmarks of cancer.
3. Cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
4. Genome instability.
5. Cancer stem cells.
6. The tumour microenvironment.
7. Cancer research.
8. Cancer therapy.

The aim of this course is to expand the student’s knowledge of how cancer cells form, how they metastasise and explain and discuss how cancer research is undertaken and current approaches to cancer treatments.

In this module, you’ll use your existing biochemical knowledge to explain hormonal control of metabolism. We’ll explore how problems in the control of normal hormonal processes can lead to a broad spectrum of metabolic diseases.

As part of this, we will cover the following topics:

• Control of energy balance and satiety by hormonal and neuronal mechanisms

• Diabetes – its history, disease types, frequency and typical symptoms

• The molecular basis of insulin signalling and the effects of obesity on this pathway

• Effects of obesity and diabetes on lipid metabolism and inflammation

• The mechanisms by which inflammation and circulating blood lipids contribute to atherosclerosis and major blood vessel disease

• Current and future therapies for obesity and diabetes

Since the chromosome of H. influenzae was sequenced in 1995 hundreds of thousands of genomes have been analysed, revealing surprises that include how abundant, non-coding RNAs can control cellular processes, and how failure of these processes can trigger disease. As a result, there is a now growing understanding of the fundamental importance of non-coding RNAs in all regulatory networks and cellular mechanisms.   
  
The first part of this module will describe the role of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of biological processes, focusing on new and exciting discoveries in micro-RNAs, piwi-RNAs and long non-coding RNAs. Information will be presented and linked to experimental models of neuron development and function, currently being investigated at the University of Nottingham.  
  
Throughout, this module will describe these RNA molecules and their associated proteins, and how their discovery revolutionised how we understand biological systems, causes of disease, and the development of novel approaches such as RNA silencing and CRISPR for use in medical research and biotechnology. Similar to the first part of the module, students will be taught about these RNA technologies by those using them directly in state-of-the-art research projects.  
  
There is a need for students to learn about this emerging and cutting-edge knowledge, because it is important to fully appreciate biochemistry and molecular biology across all organisms. Moreover, it will provide a detailed background on one of the fastest evolving areas of cellular and molecular biology, with incredible promise in the development of future therapeutic options across multiple disease backgrounds. 

This module is aimed at any student with an interest in virology. The module is designed to give a comprehensive understanding of virology without any background in the subject.