Students
MOLS7052 – Research Topic: Chemical Biology
2020 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer in Charge
Peter Karuso
Contact via e-mail
4WW 232 (F7B232)
anytime
Lecturer
Fei Liu
Contact via e-mail
4WW 330 (F7B330)
any time
Lecturer
Andrew Piggott
Contact via e-mail
4WW 334 (F7B334)
any time
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit comprises study of an advanced topic in chemistry and biomolecular sciences. The area studied each year is tailored to the current student cohort. Emphasis is put on both the understanding of advanced concepts as well as their application in problem-solving and/or research environments. Chemical biology is the science of small molecules in the context of living systems. This course focuses on current topics in chemical biology, particularly experiments in which small molecules are used to probe or control biological systems in novel ways or manipulate and understand biological systems. As the goal of the course is to familiarise students with innovative recent experimental approaches and to stimulate them to explore the boundaries of chemistry and biology, the unit will be taught extensively through the primary literature. Topics may include but are not limited to: In vitro display technologies, chemical proteomics, primary and secondary metabolism, chemical tools in mammalian systems, natural products and drug discovery.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: write out the mechanism for reactions in primary and secondary metabolism
- ULO2: apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- ULO3: apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- ULO4: able to propose a set of experiments to elucidate the mode of action of a bioactive small molecule in the development of our understanding of cellular pathways and in drug design.
- ULO5: articulate the principles underpinning forward and reverse chemical proteomics and in vitro display techniques and describe the advantages and limitations of each technique for identifying the cellular target(s) of bioactive compounds
- ULO6: design and propose the synthesis of small molecule affinity probes for use in chemical biology.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 50% | No | Week 15 |
| Oral presentation | 10% | No | Weeks 8 & 12 |
| Assignments | 40% | No | Weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11 |
Final Exam
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: Week 15
Weighting: 50%
Formal written final examination
On successful completion you will be able to:
- write out the mechanism for reactions in primary and secondary metabolism
- apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- able to propose a set of experiments to elucidate the mode of action of a bioactive small molecule in the development of our understanding of cellular pathways and in drug design.
- articulate the principles underpinning forward and reverse chemical proteomics and in vitro display techniques and describe the advantages and limitations of each technique for identifying the cellular target(s) of bioactive compounds
- design and propose the synthesis of small molecule affinity probes for use in chemical biology.
Oral presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 4 hours
Due: Weeks 8 & 12
Weighting: 10%
2 oral presentations
On successful completion you will be able to:
- apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- able to propose a set of experiments to elucidate the mode of action of a bioactive small molecule in the development of our understanding of cellular pathways and in drug design.
- articulate the principles underpinning forward and reverse chemical proteomics and in vitro display techniques and describe the advantages and limitations of each technique for identifying the cellular target(s) of bioactive compounds
- design and propose the synthesis of small molecule affinity probes for use in chemical biology.
Assignments
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11
Weighting: 40%
8 written assignments
On successful completion you will be able to:
- write out the mechanism for reactions in primary and secondary metabolism
- apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- apply chemical rationale for the design, synthesis, and application of small molecules for the manipulation of biological systems
- able to propose a set of experiments to elucidate the mode of action of a bioactive small molecule in the development of our understanding of cellular pathways and in drug design.
- articulate the principles underpinning forward and reverse chemical proteomics and in vitro display techniques and describe the advantages and limitations of each technique for identifying the cellular target(s) of bioactive compounds
- design and propose the synthesis of small molecule affinity probes for use in chemical biology.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
lectures
tutorials
small group teaching
Unit Schedule
Lecture 4-7PM Tuesdays from week 1-13 in 4WW 325 (ignore the university timetable)
Wk 1-4 Professor Peter Karuso (Primary and Secondary Metabolism)
The first four-week section will introduce you to the chemistry of biological systems, from primary metabolism and energy production to secondary metabolism. We will dissect mechanisms behind how and why nature has chosen specific pathways to synthesise new molecules and convert one molecule into another.
Wk 1: The Origin of Life, the Universe and well everything...
Wk 2: Reactions in Primary and Seconday Metabolism (Assignment PK1 due)
Wk 3: Bizarre Chemistry of Primary Metabolism (Assignment PK2 due)
Wk 4: Fatty acids/Polyketides (Assignment PK3 due)
Wk 5-8 Dr Andrew Piggott (Natural Product Biosynthesis)
This section will build on the groundwork laid in Weeks 1-4 and highlight other important biosynthetic pathways used by Nature to construct specific types of natural products
Wk 5: The shikimate pathway
Wk 6: The mevalonic acid pathway(s) and terpenoids (Assignment AP1 due)
Wk 7: Amino acids to the alkaloids (Assignment AP2 due)
Wk 8: Student Presentations (Assignment AP3 due)
Wk 9-12 Dr Fei Liu (Small Molecules in Chemical Biology)
Small molecules are frequently used as chemical tools for probing biological systems or engineering new bio-networks with new function. This section will cover current topics in the use of chemical tools in mammalian systems that have led to new approaches in drug discovery and elucidation of new cellular mechanisms.
Wk 9: Introduction to the uses of small molecules in chemical biology
Wk 10: Probing protein pathways with small molecules (Assignment FL1 due)
Wk 11: Targeted molecular therapeutics (Assignment FL2 due)
Wk 12: Student presentations
Wk 13 Professor Peter Karuso (Biomimetic synthesis)
The final section will cover aspects of biologically inspired total synthesis of natural products
Wk 13: Biomimetic synthesis of natural products
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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