Course: Enzymology

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Course title Enzymology
Course code KROV/ENZYM
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 3
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction unspecified
Work placements unspecified
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Bártová Veronika, doc. Ing. Ph.D.
  • Bárta Jan, doc. Ing. Ph.D.
  • Stupková Adéla, Ing. Ph.D.
Course content
Content of lectures: 1. An introduction to enzymes. The structure and function of enzymes. The nomenclature and classification of enzymes. Basic concepts and methods of protein chemistry. 2. General properties of enzymes. Chemical and acid-base properties. Monomeric and oligomeric enzymes. Stereochemistry. 3. An introduction to bioenergetics, catalysis and kinetics. The mechanism and specificity of enzyme reactions. Types of specificity, an active site. A comparison of enzyme-catalyzed and non-enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Bioenergetics. 4. Kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Single-substrate reactions. Steady-state enzyme kinetics. The Michaelis-Menten equations and their modifications. 5. Enzyme inhibition. Types of reversible inhibition. Irreversible inhibition. Multi-substrate enzyme-catalyzed reactions. 6. The chemical nature and mechanism of enzyme catalysis. Cofactors, coenzymes, metalloenzymes. Activators. 7. The binding of ligands to protein. Cooperativity. Allosteric enzymes. The significance of sigmoidal behavior. 8. Methods for the characterization of enzymes. Determination of molecular weight, isoelectric point, pH optimum, Michaelis constant, amino acid composition. 9. Methods for the determination of enzyme activity. Instrumental techniques. Enzymes as analytical reagents. 10. Upstream processing. Screening of producers of enzymes. Microbial fermentation, tissue cultures. 11. Downstream processing. Methods for the extraction, purification and isolation of enzymes. 12. Immobilization and stabilization of enzymes. Production of enzymes on an industrial scale. 13. Medical, industrial and biotechnological applications of enzymes. New information in enzymology. Enzyme engineering. Content of practices: Isolation and purification of selected enzymes and determination of their activity. Application of enzymes for the determination of biologically active compounds.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing)
  • Preparation for credit - 30 hours per semester
  • Preparation for exam - 40 hours per semester
  • Class attendance - 56 hours per semester
  • Semestral paper - 30 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
Introduction into applied enzymology. Overview of the enzymes classification, characterization, isolation and application.
Students are able to orientate in the field of proteins and enzymes, their characterization, importance and utilization
Prerequisites
Standard knowledge of organic chemistry.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination

Active participation in exercises, protocols from laboratory exercises, understanding the curriculum defined for the exam. Understanding of the basic laboratory techniques of protein/enzyme analysis.
Recommended literature
  • Uhlig,H.:. Enzyme arbeiten für uns. Carl Hanser Verlag, München, 1991..
  • Vodrážka,Z., Krechl,J. Bioorganická chemie. SNTL, Praha, 1991..
  • Vodrážka,Z., Rauch,P., Káš,J. Enyzmologie. VŠCHT Praha, 1991..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology Study plan (Version): Agricultural Products´ Quality (2017) Category: Agriculture and forestry 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology Study plan (Version): Agricultural Biotechnology (2014) Category: Agriculture and forestry 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology Study plan (Version): Agricultural Biotechnology (2014) Category: Agriculture and forestry 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Winter