Studying at the University of Verona
Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.
Type D and Type F activities
This information is intended exclusively for students already enrolled in this course.If you are a new student interested in enrolling, you can find information about the course of study on the course page:
Laurea magistrale in Molecular and Medical Biotechnology - Enrollment from 2025/2026Type D learning activities are the student's choice, type F activities are additional knowledge useful for job placement (internships, transversal skills, project works, etc.). According to the Teaching Regulations of the Course, some activities can be chosen and entered independently in the booklet, others must be approved by a special committee to verify their consistency with the study plan. Type D or F learning activities can be covered by the following activities.
1. Modules taught at the University of Verona
Include the modules listed below and/or in the Course Catalogue (which can also be filtered by language of delivery via Advanced Search).
Booklet entry mode: if the teaching is included among those listed below, the student can enter it independently during the period in which the curriculum is open; otherwise, the student must make a request to the Secretariat, sending the form to carriere.scienze@ateneo.univr.it during the period indicated.
2. CLA certificate or language equivalency
In addition to those required by the curriculum/study plan, the following are recognized for those matriculated from A.Y. 2021/2022:
- English language: 3 CFUs are recognized for each level of proficiency above that required by the course of study (if not already recognized in the previous course of study).
- Other languages and Italian for foreigners: 3 CFUs are recognized for each proficiency level starting from A2 (if not already recognized in the previous study cycle).
These CFUs will be recognized, up to a maximum of 6 CFUs in total, of type F if the study plan allows it, or of type D. Additional elective credits for language knowledge may be recognized only if consistent with the student's educational project and if adequately justified.
Those enrolled until A.Y. 2020/2021 should consult the information found here.
Method of inclusion in the booklet: request the certificate or equivalency from CLA and send it to the Student Secretariat - Careers for the inclusion of the exam in the career, by email: carriere.scienze@ateneo.univr.it
3. Transversal skills
Discover the training paths promoted by the University's TALC - Teaching and learning center intended for students regularly enrolled in the academic year of course delivery https://talc.univr.it/it/competenze-trasversali
Mode of inclusion in the booklet: the teaching is not expected to be included in the curriculum. Only upon obtaining the Open Badge will the booklet CFUs be automatically validated. The registration of CFUs in career is not instantaneous, but there will be some technical time to wait.
4. CONTAMINATION LAB
The Contamination Lab Verona (CLab Verona) is an experiential course with modules on innovation and enterprise culture that offers the opportunity to work in teams with students from all areas to solve challenges set by companies and organisations.
Upon completion of a CLab, students will be entitled to receive 6 CFU (D- or F-type credits).
Find out more: https://www.univr.it/clabverona
PLEASE NOTE: In order to be admitted to any teaching activities, including those of your choice, you must be enrolled in the academic year in which the activities in question are offered. Students who are about to graduate in the December and April sessions are therefore advised NOT to undertake extracurricular activities in the new academic year in which they are not enrolled, as these graduation sessions are valid for students enrolled in the previous academic year. Therefore, students who undertake an activity in an academic year in which they are not enrolled will not be granted CFU credits.
5. Internship/internship period
In addition to the CFUs stipulated in the curriculum/study plan (check carefully what is indicated on the Teaching Regulations): here information on how to activate the internship.
Check in the regulations which activities can be Type D and which can be Type F.
Modules and other activities that can be entered independently in the booklet
| years | Modules | TAF | Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2° | Python programming language | D |
Carlo Combi
(Coordinator)
|
Supramolecular chemistry of biological systems (2023/2024)
Teaching code
4S003661
Academic staff
Coordinator
Credits
6
Language
English
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
CHIM/06 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Period
Semester 1 dal Oct 2, 2023 al Jan 26, 2024.
Courses Single
Authorized
Learning objectives
This course examines the fundamentals of supramolecular chemistry, the domain of chemistry beyond that of molecules, in biological contexts. The discipline focuses on the chemical systems made up of a discrete number of assembled molecular subunits or components. Important concepts that have been demonstrated by supramolecular chemistry include molecular self-assembly, biomolecular folding, molecular recognition, host-guest chemistry, and molecular architectures. Students develop an understanding of the driving forces of supramolecular associations and how to exploit them for applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.
Prerequisites and basic notions
There are no specific prerequisites other than those required for access to the degree course.
Program
FUNDAMENTAL SUPRAMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS. Bond strengths. Ion-pairing. Ion-dipole. Dipole-dipole. Van der Waals. Polarization and London forces. Hydrogen bonding. Pi-interactions. Hydrophobic effect. Halogen bond. Coordination bond. Reversible covalent bond.
HOST-GUEST CHEMISTRY PRINCIPLES. From binding to recognition. Preorganization. Entropy-enthalpy compensation. Complementarity. Lock and key. Induced fit. Conformational selection. Allostery. Chelate effect. Macrocyclic effect. Shape selectivity. Criptate effect.
CATION BINDING. Cations in biology. Open chain ligands. Crown ethers. Podands. Criptands. Spherands. Corands. Calixarenes. Siderophores.
ANION BINDING. Anionic guest features. Binding forces. Biological receptors. Arginine fork. Protein nests. CH-halide bond. Shape selectivity. Guanidinium-, amide-based receptors. Neutral hosts. Lewis acid hosts. Halogen bonding.
MOLECULAR GUESTS IN SOLUTION. Cavitands. Calixarenes. Carcerands. Cucurbiturils. Cyclodextrins.
SELF-ASSEMBLY. Concepts. Classification. Single molecule s.a.: protein folding and foldamers. Biochemical self-assembly: helical viruses, DNA. Synthetic self-assembly: metal templating; h-bonded structures; G-quartets; molecular containers; dynamic covalent systems.
PROTEIN-LIGAND SUPERSTRUCTURES. Energetics of binding. Carbohydrate binding. Lipid binding proteins. Cooperativity and preorganization.
PROTEIN-PROTEIN/DNA SUPERSTRUCTURES. Quaternary structures. Non-obligate complexes. Size, topology, composition of interfaces. The core-rim model. Homodimers. Symmetry. Crystal packing interfaces. Dynamics. Hot spots. Protein-nucleic acid recognition.
SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMICAL BIOLOGY. Biomolecular recognition by synthetic receptors. Modulators of protein-protein interactions. Conformationally constrained peptides. Stabilization of protein-protein interactions.
SUPRAMOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS. Rational drug design of enzyme inhibitors. Inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. Supramolecular antibiotics. Supramolecular disease pathways: inhibitors of fibril formation. Nanoscale medicinal materials.
ANALYTICAL METHODS - FLUORIMETRY. Physical basis of fluorescence. Lifetime and quantum yield. Intrinsic and extrinsic fluorophores. Environmental effects. Fluorescence anisotropy. FRET. Application to supramolecular systems.
ANALYTICAL METHODS - CALORIMETRY. Heat and energy. Isothermal titration calorimetry. Biomolecular complex formation, protein-membrane interactions, vesicle formation, fibrils formation. Differential scanning calorimetry. Macromolecule stability and denaturation. Lipid phase transitions.
NMR SPECTROSCOPY. Physical basis. NMR observables. The 1D NMR experiment. 2D experiments. HSQC and interactions. Chemical shift mapping.
LIPID ASSEMBLIES. Phospholipid features. Biomembranes. Lipid vesicles: preparation methods, controlled chemical composition, physicochemical properties. Fatty acid vesicles and protocells. Compartmentalization.
PROTEIN-NANOPARTICLE INTERACTIONS. Molecular recognition with nanostructured materials. Protein corona.
SUPRAMOLECULAR NANOPARTICLES. Host-guest based supramolecular nanoparticles: nanocarriers drug/gene delivery, micelles, vesicles. Nanoparticle-stabilized capsules. Liposomes.
Bibliography
Didactic methods
The teachers will use frontal lessons.
In special cases, provided for by the University guidelines, and at the request of individual students, recorded lessons may be made available.
Learning assessment procedures
The examiner will verify through written examination that the student has learned the chemical bases of supramolecular interactions, namely the principles that guide the molecular recognition mechanisms. The student must also be able to thoroughly discuss the main biological supramolecular systems, including in particular the biomolecular complexes, the superstructures, aggregates, and vesicular systems. Students are expected to know of examples of supramolecular chemistry in biomedical applications.
The examination method is not differentiated between attending and non-attending students and / or for Erasmus students and the course does not include intermediate tests.
Evaluation criteria
Ability to organize knowledge
Critical reasoning skills on the proposed topics
Exposure quality
Criteria for the composition of the final grade
The evaluation of the exam corresponds to the final grade.
Exam language
English
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