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GPCR Structure - Function: Suitable Methods and Tools
Provider: Department of Chemistry

Activity no.: 5788-25-10-10There are 27 available seats 
Enrollment deadline: 30/04/2025
PlaceFrederiksberg Campus
Bülowsvej 17, 1870 Frederiksberg C
Date and time02.06.2025, at: 00:00 - 11.06.2025, at: 00:00
Regular seats30
ECTS credits2.50
Contact personKaren Laurence Martinez    E-mail address: martinez@chem.ku.dk
Enrolment Handling/Course OrganiserKaren Laurence Martinez    E-mail address: martinez@chem.ku.dk
Written languageEnglish
Teaching languageEnglish
Exam requirementsYou will have to present a poster during Day 5. Some abstracts will be submitted for oral presentations during Day 3. Deadline for abstracts (1 page max): 23/05/2025
Grading scaleApproved / Not approved
Criteria for exam assessmentActive particpation during the course
Course workload
Course workload categoryHours
Preparation35.00
Lectures34.00
Sum69.00
Aim and content
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of membrane proteins. They are involved in most physiological processes and are involved in numerous pathologies, which makes them highly relevant drug targets. Understanding GPCR signaling requires a multidisciplinary approach combining methods and techniques to investigate the structure and function of GPCRs, both in cells and in purified samples

The course will give an overview of our current knowledge about GPCR structure and function, with introductions to the methods and tools used today.
Four topics will be covered with introductory lectures and presentations of state-of-the-art knowledge:

• GPCR biochemistry: from heterologous expression to GPCR reconstitution in artificial systems
• GPCR structure at the molecular level: Xray crystallography and CryoEM
• GPCR function in cells: from cell-based assays in bulk to single molecule studies in cells
• New molecules for GPCRs: ligands and biosensors

During the course, you will meet international speakers in the field, and hear about GPCR investigation in the Pharmaceutical industry.

Learning outcome
Knowledge:
• Standard cell-based assays used to study GPCR signaling
• Principles of techniques used today to determine GPCR structure and GPCR function
• State-of-the-art understanding of GPCR structure/Function

Skills:
• select suitable techniques and methods to address a specific question about GPCR signaling
• Analyze and interpret results in scientific publications related to the topic of the course

Competences:
• critical assessment of the pros and cons of the method used in publications in the field (e.g. cell-based assays, detection method, etc)
• The design of experimental procedures

Target group
The course is a multidisciplinary course.
It aims at providing an overview of the methods and tools used for the investigation of GPCR structure and function.

It will be suitable for students having a background:
• in biology willing to learn about the biophysical approaches to investigate GPCRs.
• in chemistry and physics willing to learn more about GPCRs

Relevant MSc educations at SCIENCE:
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Bioinformatics
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Nanoscience
• Chemistry
• Molecular Biomedicine
• Medicinal Chemistry

Recommended Academic Qualifications:
The participants should have some basic knowledge in biochemistry (eg. introductory courses in biochemistry).

Teaching and learning methods
The course will consist of lectures and workshops, during which participants will learn about our current understanding of GPCR structure and function, and get introduction about the method and techniques used.
- 3 days lectures with active participation
- ½ workshop “Meet the Pharma”
- ½ day Virtual Reality workshop
- 1 day Symposium with international guests speakers

They will also provide space where students can present their own research and course participants will be expected to contribute actively.

Lecturers
From University of Copenhagen

- Prof Trond Ulven
- Prof. Mette Rosenkilde
- Associate Pr. Martin Gustavsson
- Assistant Pr. Signe Mathiassen
- Associate Pr. Henriette Autzen
- Associate Pr. Karen Martinez

The course will include several international guests lecturers (one day Symposium):
- Brian Kobilka, Professor of Molecular & Cellular Physiology at Stanford University, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry 2012
- Jin Zhang, Professor University of California
- Annette Beck-Sickinger, Professor University of Leipzig

Remarks
The course is co-organized with ISBUC. (https://isbuc.ku.dk/).

It will be concomitant to the international conference “Chemical Solutions for Structural Biology”, coorganized with Pr Morten Meldal https://isbuc.ku.dk/chemical-solutions-to-structural-biology/

Course Fee:
Students from Danish Universities: None
Students from non-Danish Universities: 3000 DKK

Course period:
Mon 02/06/2025 - Wed 04/06/2025
Mon 10/06/2025 - Tue 11/06/2025

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