Students

MOLS8211 – Protein Discovery and Analysis

2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alison Rodger
alison.rodger@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(BMOL6202 or CBMS634) and (BMOL6201 or CBMS621 or Admission to MBioBus)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
MOLS7211
Unit description Unit description

This unit outlines molecular principles underlying today's developments in protein science and biomedical research. As well as detailing modern separation technologies, the course addresses structural biology, protein analysis and bioinformatics. Practices common in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to isolate recombinant proteins are emphasized. Analysis methods are introduced in relation to proteomics, genomics and biochemical research. Molecular properties leading to the 3D shape of proteins are detailed, and contemporary structure methods outlined.

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: Design appropriate procedures for isolating and handling proteins
  • ULO2: Demonstrate a chemical understanding of proteins (gene products), in vivo and in vitro
  • ULO3: Utilise contemporary web tools for protein analysis
  • ULO4: Describe protein topology forms and architectures, and recognise how these are encoded within a primary sequence
  • ULO5: Extract and interpret information from literature sources concerning proteins

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit: MOLS8211/7211 is a completely assessment-based unit. To past you must get 50% or higher.

 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical problem.

Postponement of the final Pet Protein presentation requires an approved Special Consideration. 

 

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted with standard late penalties: all written assignments except quizes

Assessments where Late Submissions will NOT be accepted: quizes and the presentation

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
"Pet Protein" Model and Seminar 20% No Week 13
Protein Production Practical 15% No Week 9
“Pet Protein” Sequence Analysis & Purification 15% No Week 8
In class quizzes 40% No Weeks 1, 3, 7, 10, 12
Molecular graphics 10% No Week 11

"Pet Protein" Model and Seminar

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 20%

 

Research the literature concerning the 3D structure and structure determination method for your assigned protein. Construct a model that shows the three-dimensional shape of this macromolecule, and present this in a class presentation.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a chemical understanding of proteins (gene products), in vivo and in vitro
  • Utilise contemporary web tools for protein analysis
  • Describe protein topology forms and architectures, and recognise how these are encoded within a primary sequence
  • Extract and interpret information from literature sources concerning proteins

Protein Production Practical

Assessment Type 1: Lab report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 15%

 

Follow the procedures for preparation and isolation of a protein, and analyse the characteristics of your sample.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Design appropriate procedures for isolating and handling proteins
  • Demonstrate a chemical understanding of proteins (gene products), in vivo and in vitro
  • Utilise contemporary web tools for protein analysis

“Pet Protein” Sequence Analysis & Purification

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 15%

 

Each student will be assigned a protein of industrial/medical importance as a case study throughout this Unit. You will conduct a literature search to discover the purification procedures historically used to isolate this protein, and report on the background chemistry underlying these procedures.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a chemical understanding of proteins (gene products), in vivo and in vitro
  • Utilise contemporary web tools for protein analysis
  • Extract and interpret information from literature sources concerning proteins

In class quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Weeks 1, 3, 7, 10, 12
Weighting: 40%

 

Short answer quizzes for continual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a chemical understanding of proteins (gene products), in vivo and in vitro
  • Describe protein topology forms and architectures, and recognise how these are encoded within a primary sequence

Molecular graphics

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 14 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 10%

 

You will use molecular graphics (program PyMOL) to view the 3D structure of a GTP-ase protein to understand its binding and function.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a chemical understanding of proteins (gene products), in vivo and in vitro
  • Describe protein topology forms and architectures, and recognise how these are encoded within a primary sequence
  • Extract and interpret information from literature sources concerning proteins

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

Protein structure and function are intrinsically related, so it is important to be able to produce protein that is correctly folded into the correct shape for its biological activity. The goal of this unit is to lead you to understand how to do this, how to prove you have done it, and how the correct structure relates to protein's function. This unit outlines molecular principles underlying today's developments in protein science and biomedical research. As well as detailing modern separation technologies, the course addresses structural biology, protein analysis and bioinformatics. Practices common in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to isolate recombinant proteins are emphasized. Analysis methods are introduced in relation to proteomics, genomics and biochemical research. Molecular properties leading to the 3D shape of proteins are detailed, and contemporary structure methods outlined. The assessed work for the unit includes skills-based workshops and a block laboratory class in the mid semester break. These are designed to give you the skills to enable you to understand the origin, structure and function of your pet protein - which you will be assigned early in the unit. The unit runs from week 1 to week 13 and includes a practical session in the mid semester break. We formally have 2 lectures and 1 SGTA. It should be noted that lectures include problem solving and SGTAs will include some content delivery. You are strongly advised to organise your timetable to be present for all the contact hours of this unit, particularly in weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. The unit convenor may be contacted by email. Please use MOLS8211/7211 in the subject line to avoid your email getting lost. In an emergency you coudl try texting or phoning her: 0426627077.

For the latest information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please refer to the Coronavirus infection page on the Macquarie website: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirusfaqs. Remember to check this page regularly in case the information and requirements change during semester. If there are any changes to this unit in relation to COVID, these will be communicated via iLearn. You may be required to wear a mask during laboratory sessions and implement hand and bench hygene measures.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

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Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook