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.
Study Plan
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 Biotecnologie per le biorisorse e lo sviluppo ecosostenibile - Enrollment from 2025/2026The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.
1° Year
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2° Year activated in the A.Y. 2022/2023
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Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)
TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.
New frontiers in biocatalysis (2021/2022)
Teaching code
4S008292
Teacher
Coordinator
Credits
6
Language
Italian
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY
Period
Secondo semestre dal Mar 7, 2022 al Jun 10, 2022.
Learning outcomes
The course aims to provide the student with the basic and advanced knowledge of biocatalysis applied in the industrial, therapeutic and diagnostic fields. In particular, the main objectives of the course concern the understanding: 1) of the principles of enzyme catalysis; 2) the new frontiers in enzymes applications; 3) molecular methods to optimize the reactivity of enzymes; 4) innovative approaches for the development of artificial enzymes that show non-natural reactivity.
Program
The topics listed below are indicative of the syllabus content and may be subject to changes by the lecturer:
- Introduction to the course and general information on biocatalysis;
- Protein engineering for the optimization of biocatalysts: chemical modifications, site-directed metagenesis (rational design), random mutagenesis (directed evolution), semi-rational mutagenesis approaches, selection and screening methods, case studies (stability improvement: thermal and pH, catalytic efficiency, regio/stereo selectivity, etc.);
- Enzymes in unconventional media (medium engineering); enzyme reactions in organic solvents; biphasic systems, co-solvents and pure organic solvents; other unconventional media (ionic liquids, supercritical fluids and eutectic mixtures);
- Homogeneous enzyme catalysis: Multienzyme systems (linear, parallel, orthogonal and cyclic enzyme cascades); Practical examples of enzymatic cascades (production of non-natural amino acids, plastic precursors, di-substituted pyrrolidine, derivatives of D-phenylalanine, etc.);
- Heterogeneous enzymatic catalysis (immobilization): Advantages and disadvantages of immobilization; Supports for immobilization; Immobilization strategies (covalent, adsorption, entrapment and encapsulation); Immobilization without support (CLEC and CLEA); New frontiers of enzymatic immobilization: viral supports and nanoreactors;
- The CRISPR-Cas system principles and applications: CRISPR loci and cas genes; Operating mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas system; The three main types of CRISPR / Cas systems; Insights on the CRISPR / Cas9 system; Application of the CRISPR / Cas9 system for genome editing and protein engineering; Variants of the Cas9 endonuclease and their applications; the CRISPR / Cas9 system as a library screening tool for mutants generated by direct evolution;
-Biocatalysis applied to plastics: Physicochemical properties that influence the degradability of plastics; Enzymes that hydrolyse plastic polymers (PET hydrolytic enzymes (PHEs)); Protein engineering for optimizing PHEs; Ideonella sakaiensis as a model of bacterium that metabolizes PET plastic; Specific enzymes for the hydrolysis of PET (PETase);
Teaching material:
-Slides of the course (provided at the end of the lecture)
-Scientific articles (references cited during the lectures)
Bibliography
Examination Methods
The final assessment aims to verify the achievement of the "Learning Outcomes" related to the topics reported in the "Course syllabus".
The final assessment consists of an oral dissertation aimed at ascertaining both that the student has acquired the knowledge defined in the course syllabus as well as the ability to perform the required logical-deductive links. In particular, the completeness of the exposition, the level of integration between the various course topics as well as the scientific appropriateness of the language will be evaluated.
Furthermore, the achievement by the student of a global vision of the topics addressed in class (combined with their critical application), the ability to make connections and the use of an appropriate scientific language will be assessed with a mark of excellence.
The final assessment follows the same guidelines for both attending and non-attending students.