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Åbo Akademi University 2014/2015
BIOSCIENCES
Physical biochemistry
213009.0
6 credits
Advanced level
Lectured course
Offered: Autumn 2014
Lecturers: J Peter Slotte and others
Aims: To understand the physical basis for macromolecule
interaction and function and to become familiar with bio-
physical techniques used in biosciences
Contents: Molecular structure and function, molecular ther-
modynamics, absorption spectroscopy, emission spectrosco-
py, emission spectroscopy of proteins, x-ray crystallography,
NMR theory, protein NMR, calorimetry
Target audience: Masters level (4th and 5th academic year)
graduate students
Form of assessment: written essays
Course literature: handouts during lectures; based on the
following books: van Holde, Johnson and Ho: Principles of
Physical Biochemistry (available at the Department of Bio-
chemistry, Åbo Akademi); Tinoco, Sauer and Wang: Physical
chemistry - principles and applications in biological sciences;
Hammes: Physical chemistry for the biological sciences Allen:
Biophysical Chemistry
Membrane biochemistry - lipids
213020.0
6 credits
Advanced level
Lectured course
Offered: Spring 2015
Lecturer(s): J Peter Slotte and others
Aims: To understand lipid behavior in aqueous environments,
to understandmembrane structure, membrane dynamics and
role of lipid molecular properties in maintaining membrane
structure and function
Contents: Lipid aggregation in aqueous environments; Lipid
miscibility and interactions in bilayer membranes; Lipid phas-
es and phase diagrams; Lateral structure of membranes - the
formation of lipid domains; Lateral structure of membranes
- importance of sphingolipids for membrane heterogeneity;
Biophysical studies of membrane (lipid) properties using
emission spectroscopy; NMR studies of lipid dynamics in
membranes; Lipid/protein interaction in membranes; Com-
putational simulation of lipid in membranes; Lipid transfer
and transfer proteins; Lipid properties vs lipid transfer in cells
Target audience: Masters level (4th and 5th academic year)
graduate students
Form of assessment: written essays
Course literature: handouts during lectures
Course literature: All notes and materials provided.
Industrial Biotechnology: Fermentation
212016.0
2 credits
Intermediate level
Lectured course
Offered: January 2015, starting week 3
Lecturers: Mark Johnson, Tomi Airenne, Jarmo Käpylä
Aims: Introduce participants to practical uses of biochemistry
and cell biology, through fermentation, to produce ales; In-
troduce participants to biochemical metabolismby showing
how yeast (and even humanmuscle tissue) reflect the earliest
biochemical pathways to produce energy - glycolysis and fer-
mentation. Introduceparticipants togrowing cells, preventing
contamination, and how cellular growth and metabolism
changes under conditions of high and low concentrations of
oxygen. Show participants how the industrial processes like
brewing are designed to take advantage of yeast metabolism
during the different stages of fermentation. Form groups for
project work fromÅAU, University of Turku, and TurkuUniver-
sity of Applied Sciences in order to foster communication and
ties that extend beyond each individual university.
Contents: Lectures, group work, short group presentation,
laboratory work (brewing an ale from grain, hops, yeast and
water), project evaluation by peers
Target audience: Open to all
Assessment: Credit awarded for participation; peer evalua-
tion of project
Course literature: Two books are provided; course materials
via Dropbox
Course materials: All equipment and ingredients provided;
course has license from Valvira to produce ales
Other details: Course uses production hall laboratory and
kitchen facilities of Turku University of Applied Sciences,
Lemminkäisenkatu 30. Limited to 48 participants
Sign-up in advance electronically on site
institution/coursesbiosci.
Glycobiology - Biochemistry of Complex
Carbohydrates
6 credits
Advanced level
Self-study course
Offered: Upon agreement during the academic year
Contact person: Peter Mattjus
Aims: To introduce the student to the essentials of glycobiol-
ogy
Target audience: Master's level
Form of assessment: written examination
Course literature: Essentials of Glycobiology, Second Edition,
2009 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Fluorescence spectroscopy
8 credits
Advanced level
Self-study course
Offered: Upon agreement during the academic year
Contact person: J Peter Slotte
Aims: to introduce the student to the essentials of fluores-
cence spectroscopy
Target audience: Master's level
Form of assessment: written examination
Course literature: Lakowicz: Principles of fluorescence spec-
troscopy 2e or 3e
Lipid metabolism
8 credits
Advanced level
Self-study course
Offered: Upon agreement during the academic year
Contact person: J Peter Slotte
Aims: to introduce the student to the essentials of lipid me-
tabolism
Target audience: Master's level
Form of assessment: written examination
Course literature: Vance and Vance: Biochemistry of Lipids,
Lipoproteins and Membranes, 4th ed
