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Chem 728 9:30a-10:45a Tue/Thu - LGRT 206 Physical Biochemistry
Instructor: Professor Craig Martin http://people.chem.umass.edu/cmartin/Courses/Ch728
EMail: cmartin@chem.umass.edu This WEB page last updated: 5/14/09, 2:31 PM
Office Hours: by arrangement Spire class number 19079


Recent and upcoming dates:

News & Announcements - Stay tuned here throughout the semester for important course information. Note scroll bar at right.

Science in the news - Stay tuned here for recent articles of interest to the class.

Useful links
Course Syllabus
Energy Scales
UMass Emergency Closing
Interesting links
Science Daily
Science News
Wired News - Technology
Natl Institutes of Health
Interesting links
DNA Structure!
Random Quote
American Chemical Society
Thermo in the news

Textbooks (two required)
Binding and Kinetics for Molecular Biologists, James A. Goodrich, Jennifer F. Kugel, CSL Press, 2007 Spectroscopy for the Biological Sciences, Gordon G Hammes, Wiley-Interscience, 2005
Note that these two textbooks replace the one earlier text used most recently in this course. Together, however, they cost less than the earlier text.
Grading & Exams

There will be two quizzes (in-class) and two exams (take home, but worked on independently) throughout the semester.

Personal integrity and honesty are fully expected in all exams and in the classroom. In fairness to others, cheating of any kind will be prosecuted to the full extent of University regulations (specifically, see p. 28 discussions of cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty).


Typical topics covered

Binding and Kinetics

  • Common assays
    • Stopped-flow
    • Ultracentrifugation
    • Isothermal titration calorimetry
    • Surface plasmon resonance
    • Pseudo-thermo: gel shift, pull-downs, filter binding
  • Theoretical underpinnings
  • Cooperativity
  • Data analysis with a critical eye

Spectroscopy

  • Foundations
  • Absorption and spectral fitting
  • Fluorescence and phosphorescence
  • Fluorescence energy transfer
  • Fluorescence polarization
  • CD
  • IR / Raman
  • NMR
  • EPR

Syllabus / Calendar

The syllabus below will evolve with the course. Watch frequently for changes. Last update 5/14/09, 2:31 PM

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