Department of Biological Sciences

BIOL 51100 Introduction to X-Ray Crystallography

Session Offered:

Spring Credit 3.0

Prerequisites:

PHYS 22000 and 22100 or 17200 and 27200 or 17200 and 24100 and 24200 and 25200

Description:

 

Analysis of crystal structures by X-ray diffraction methods.  Growth and properties of protein crystals.  Geometry of diffraction.  Measurement of diffraction.  Intensity of diffracted waves.  Symmetry of crystals.  The phase problem.  Isomorphous replacement.  Molecular replacement.  Anomalous diffraction methods.  Structure refinement and analysis.  Crystallography is a primary method for the determination of the structures of biological macromolecules at near atomic resolution.  As such it has a tremendous impact on aspects of biological and biochemical research as diverse as the protein folding problem, the regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, the catalytic functions of enzymes, and the design of therapeutic agents to bind to known receptors.

BIOL 51100 is an introduction to the use of crystallography to determine the structures of biological macromolecules and is designed for students with typical backgrounds in biology or chemistry.  The goal is to familiarize students with all aspects of crystallography that are usually encountered in the course of the analysis of a crystal structure, including crystallization methods, aspects of symmetry, diffraction experiments, solving and refining the structure, and building and interpreting a model.  Students who have completed BIOL 51100 should possess sufficient knowledge of crystallography to understand and evaluate the technical aspects of structure determinations reported in the general or biochemical literature.  The course also provides a base for research in crystallography and is recommended as preparation for the advanced crystallography course, BIOL 61100, which is designed for graduate students involved in research in crystallography or related areas of physical biochemistry. 

Instructor(s):

Jeffrey T. Bolin

Jue Chen

Michael Rossmann

E-mail:

jtb@purdue.edu;chenjue@purdue.edu;mr@purdue.edu

Textbook(s):

 

Text:  Principles of Protein X-Ray Crystallography

Year/Edition:  2007/3rd

ISBN: : 978-0-387-33334-2

Author: Jan Drenth

Grading:

The course grade is based on at least two exams (each of equal weight) and, if time permits, one project. Exams consist of problems and descriptive responses. Frequent homework assignments are required and are graded.

Course Format:

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