PhD courses at University of Copenhagen

Receptor Structure and Function
Provider: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Activity no.: 3119-13-00-00
	Enrollment deadline: 01/03/2013

Date and time	15.04.2013, at: 09:15 - 19.04.2013, at: 17:00
Regular seats	14
Course fee	9,240.00 kr.
Lecturers	Jette Sandholm Kastrup
ECTS credits	4.00


Enrolment Handling/Course Organiser	PhD administration E-mail address: phdkursus@sund.ku.dk

Aim and content Aim The course objectives are to provide basic knowledge of receptor structure and function as well as to receptor-ligand interactions. The course will take participants from the gene to the three-dimensional crystal structure of a protein. Content Cellular communication relies on receptor-ligand interactions. It is therefore essential to gain a detailed structural knowledge of the receptor and the interactions with its ligands. The techniques of molecular biology in combination with X-ray structure determination constitute a strong and efficient tool for the elucidation of the questions concerning the interplay between a ligand or a potential drug and the receptor. Molecular biological cloning approaches have provided the means to isolate genes and overexpress proteins. Heterologous expression systems are developed to optimise proper folding of the expressed proteins. Methods based on random and directed mutagenesis are instrumental in identifying protein-ligand interactions and in characterising potential domains suitable for crystallisation. X-ray crystallography is the most powerful experimental method for determining the three-dimensional structures of proteins. Several thousand different protein structures are known today, due to the progress in gene technology, in methods for X-ray data collection and in computer technology. The results have contributed decisively not only to the knowledge of the structure, but also to the knowledge of the biological function of proteins. It is therefore essential for researchers in many different fields within health and natural sciences to have a basic knowledge of how to analyse these results and apply them to their own scientific field. The lectures will cover: - Introduction to receptors - Functional characterisation of receptors - Cloning and overexpression of proteins in various species - Purification of receptor proteins and receptor purity/homogeneity tests - Crystallisation of receptor proteins - Protein crystallography - Structural analysis and databases - Bioinformatics and molecular modelling - In vivo imaging The practical exercises will cover: - Receptor pharmacology - Biophysical characterization of receptors - Crystallisation of a receptor - Structural analysis of receptor-ligand complexes - Search in databases (gene and amino acid sequence, 3D structure etc.) Participants The course is primarily offered to PhD students who have completed undergraduate courses in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or pharmacy, or researchers within the pharmaceutical industry. Applicants enrolled in part-time master's programs at the University of Copenhagen may participate in the course. Language English Form The course will be organised as a one-week course and will comprise about 18 lectures and 20 hours of practical exercise. The participants will be supplied with study materials composed of lecture notes or selected scientific publications. The course will be concluded by a two hour written examination (WEB-based), which will be assessed by the course director. Dates April 15-19 2013 and WEB-based take-home examination April 29 2013 Course location Lectures in the Benzon Auditorium, Universitetsparken 2 Computer exercises in Databar D3, Jagtvej 160 Other workshops at Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Jagtvej 162 and Symbion, Fruebjergvej 3