CPB 320
Fundamentals of Chemical Biology
Course Overview
Instructors
Course Description
Syllabus
Assigned Readings
Problem Sets
Grading
Instructors:
Dr. Brian Bachmann
SC 7921, phone 322-8865
Email: brian.bachmann@vanderbilt.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Dr. Lawrence J. Marnett
850 Robinson Research Building
615-343-7329
larry.marnett@vanderbilt.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Course Description:
It is a wonderful time to be a scientific researcher involved in research and discovery in chemistry and biology. Conceptual advances at the interface of these previously independent sciences, combined with the enabling advances being made in information technology, are changing how we understand the world. For better or worse, we are at the cusp of understanding the chemistry of life, how our genes determine our chemistry and how our chemistry effects who (and what!) we are. This course aims to introduce fundamental concepts of contemporary science at the interface of chemical biology. A series of overviews and in-depth case studies will demonstrate the breadth of chemical biology and the importance of this emerging field in advancing biological sciences.
Click here to view a PDF of the syllabus.
There are no assigned textbooks for this course. Readings from the primary literature comprise a significant portion of this course. Review articles will set the larger stage for selected themes and case studies from the primary literature will illustrate specific examples of solutions to interfacial problems. The literature of chemical biology is currently undergoing a renaissance. In addition to the premier press journals, several new chemical biology focused journals have recently been launched that students may find illuminating:
Theme 1: Chemical Biology of Natural Products Biosynthesis. Focus on biosynthesis of biological mediators, specifically the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The field of biosynthetic studies exemplifies many of the thought processes, tools and methods used in the broad field of Chemical Biology as it spans genomics to metabolomics, biochemistry to systems biology. We will develop an understanding of two archetypal biosynthetic systems, those responsible for synthesizing polyketides and polypeptides at the level of chemical mechanism of their assembly, the structure and mechanisms of the biosynthetic enzymes
Theme 2: Chemical Biology of Biological Mediators. Transition from the biosynthesis of small molecules by multi-enzyme biosynthetic pathways to the interaction of small molecules with biological systems of medical relevance (targets). Most drugs are small molecules and many important biological systems are mediated by their action.
A primary source of pedagogy will be assigning readings and homework. Each area will have an assigned review article and several case study articles. This class entails active participation. Students will be provided with pre-reading prompt questions for the case studies and students will be asked questions about the reading during in-class discussion. In addition, each student will be presenting one or two ~5-10-minute PowerPoint presentations on some of the case studies from assigned readings. Students are expected to comment on background, significance and approach.
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Grading
The final grade will be based on a combination of assigned homework, in class exercises and examinations.
Grading Policy: