Forces at cell and molecular level. Elements of cell physiology. Analysis of biological signals. Fourier series and transform: biological applications. Examples of high resolution structural studies.
S. Massari - Elementi di Biofisica - Piccin Editore
J. Howard: Mechanics of motor proteins and the cytoskeleton - Sinauer Ass. Inc.
D.J. Aidley: The physiology of excitable cells - Cambridge University Press
H.C. Berg: Random walks in Biology - Princeton University Press
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Magnitude of forces at cell and molecular level
Biophysics and physiology of excitable cells.
Examples of biophysical methods and applications to the study of physiological problems.
Competence acquired
Use of analysis of periodical signals and of model simulations.
Looking for protein structures available on the Protein Data Bank web sites: structure visualization and analysis.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Capability to understand a biological problem and to find the adequate techniques and methods for quantitative modeling.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities:
96
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours):
48
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 0
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 0
Seminars (hours): 6
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
6h/week
Teaching tools
Computer software and internet connection
Type of Assessment
Oral
Course program
Magnitude of forces at cell and molecular level. Elements of cell physiology: the cell membrane; electrochemical equilibrium; passive and active transport through the cell membrane; resting potential; action potential: genesis, propagation and transmission. Structure-function relation in the biological molecules: ion channels, muscle contraction and cell motility.
Biophysical methods: Fourier Series and Fourier Transform and biological applications; structural studies with X-ray diffraction: introduction to protein crystallography, small angle scattering and fibre diffraction; fluorescence polarization and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer applied to the study of the intra- and inter-molecular movements and in particular to molecular motors.