Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Applications in Biotechnology

- Basic Techniques of Analysis and Purification of Proteins (Omogenization, Centrifugation, Chromatography, Electrophoresis)
- Spectroscopic methods (absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence and circular dichroism), evaluation of biological activity (biological activity assays, doses of enzymatic activity).
- Structural Biology Techniques
- Techniques for protein-protein or protein-ligand interaction analysis.
- Antibodies: structure and function. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. ELISA, Western Blott and Phage display. Use of antibodies in diagnosis and therapy, humanised antibodies.
- Protein Engineering Techniques: Direct site mutagenesis, Random Mutagenesis (directed evolution, molecular breeding: PCR error error, DNA shuffling, ITCHY). Methods for screening protein variants obtained by mutagenesis.
- Enzymes: Enzyme dosages, use of enzymes to titrate metabolites.
- Protein classes of industrial interest and therapy: Blood proteins (coagulation factors, clot lysis), Proteases, lipases, amylases, thermostable enzymes, immobilized enzymes, biosensors.
- During the course several examples of research published in scientific journals are discussed.
- The course includes 16 hours of laboratory exercises on the topics concerning the course.

- Basic Techniques of Analysis (DNA/RNA Electrophoresis and variants, Southern/Northern blot, PCR, DNA cloning )
- Genomic/cDNA Library cloning vector and applications
- Genetic screening, phage display, two hybrid and variants
- DNA sequencing technologies
- Model organisms
- Synthetic lethality screening and application as therapeutic strategies
- Mutants
- Methods to study genic expression
- Protein-Nucleic Acid interaction
- During the course several examples of research published in scientific journals are discussed.
- The course includes 16 hours of laboratory exercises on the topics concerning the course.