Protein expression and purification is an essential part structural biology. This module will introduce the theory and practice of protein expression and purification. Students will have the opportunity to use modern, robotic protein purification equipment.
Lecturer
Dr Arvind Varsani (Electron Microscope Unit) has a Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Molecular Biology background. He will present lectures on various aspects of virus structures, assist in the electron microscopy module and provide molecular biology support for the programme.
Main Outcomes
The ability to:
- describe and discuss protein expression and purification.
- express recombinant proteins
- purify proteins by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, affinity chromatography and ultracentrifugation.
This module descriptor document also can be downloaded as an MS-Word document.
Main Content
- Expression systems
- Introduction to protein purification
- Detection of proteins
- Principles of chromatography (ion exchange, gel filtration, affinity chromatography
- Centrifugation
| Home Department: | Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT |
| Module description (Header): | Protein expression and purification |
| Generic module name: | Structural Biology |
| Alpha-numeric code: | STB705 |
| Credit Value: | 5 Credits |
| Duration: | 3 Weeks |
| Module Type: | P |
| Level: | 8 |
| Prerequisites: | None |
| Co-requisites: | None |
| Prohibited combinations: | None |
| Learning time breakdown (hours): | |
| Contact with lecturer/tutor: | 55 |
| Assignments & tasks: | 15 |
| Tests & examinations: | 0 |
| Practicals: | 20 |
| Selfstudy: | 10 |
| Total Learning Time | 100 |
| Methods of Student Assessment: | Students will be required to submit a practical write up and complete an assignment. Assignments – 100% |
Assessment
Students will be required to submit a practical write up and complete an assignment (100% of course mark).
Online Lectures
- [PEP] Overview Lecture by Arvind Varsani
- Recombinant Expression Systems
- Molecular Biology and Gene Cloning for the Structural Biologist – by Michael Benedik, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University
See/lectures/benedik/on the server.- Introduction: Genes and Gene Expression
- Cloning DNA
- DNA Synthesis, PCR, DNA Sequencing
- Mutagenesis and Protein Engineering: mutilation and mayhem as applied to poor defenseless genes.
- Gene expression in prokaryotes
- Gene expression in yeast and eukaryotes
- The BirkBeck College protein purification course
Documentation and Resources
See the following resources on our website, for further protocols and information, including:
References
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