Synthesis and Characterization of Biomolecules and Biomolecules Applied to Biological Systems

The course aims to provide the student with integrated chemical and biochemical knowledge of the main classes of natural biomolecules and their modified analogues for applications in the chemical and biotechnological fields.
A part of the course will be devoted to the chemistry of peptides and their modified analogues. The main computational methods for atomistic simulations of biomolecules will also be illustrated, such as quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and docking techniques.
The main synthesis and purification strategies will be introduced, as well as the methodologies for studying their conformational aspects by means of computational and spectroscopic techniques. The techniques for studying the interactions of macromolecules with their respective biological targets and of macromolecules with each other will be presented, resulting in supramolecular assemblies and nanomaterials.
The principles underlying the use of biomolecules (mainly biopolymers, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and lipids) in the study of biological systems will also be explained. The methods applied to the prediction of the characteristics and properties of biomolecules will be illustrated, in order to understand their functions in complex biological systems and their use as tools capable of modulating and characterizing the networks in which they are involved. Furthermore, students will acquire notions related to the development of some technologies which, using living organisms or their components, allow to obtain therapeutically useful natural and modified products.

At the end of the course the students will be able to: understand deeply and adequately the structure and function of the main biological molecules and their ability to coordinate with each other in biological systems; apply the principles of synthetic chemistry to the preparation of biomolecules; understand the basic concepts of supramolecular assembly. Students will also acquire a basic knowledge of the characteristics of peptide-based nanomaterials, of the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of oligonucleotides and modified synthetic lipids. They will also understand and critically interpret computational studies related to small organic molecules and biological macromolecules, recognizing their degree of reliability. They will be able to present their knowledge in a clear and orderly manner, with appropriate scientific language and with rigorous arguments.