CH3102 - Medicinal and Biological Chemistry
[Offered in odd-numbered years]
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 2 |
| Administered by: | College of Science and Engineering |
Offered in SP2, in odd numbered years only
BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY This area of the subject will involve a broad study of the organic and inorganic chemistry of biological processes - particularly those involved in metabolism and biosynthesis. The organic chemistry will focus on a review of the major classes of natural products from living systems (plants, animals, microorganisms) discussed in a way dictated by their likely biosynthetic origins and their biological activity. Experimental techniques that have been used to establish these biosynthetic pathways will also be addressed. The inorganic chemistry component will focus on the role that metal ions play in living systems. Topics of interest will include essential elements, metalloenzymes and proteins, specifically oxygen carrier proteins, storage proteins, hydrolase enzymes and redox-based proteins and enzymes. MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY General framework of the drug discovery and development process: Therapeutic targets; screening for lead compounds (natural products and synthetic compounds); optimisation of lead compounds {drug-target molecular interactions, access to target (ADME)}; preclinical and clinical trials; patenting and regulatory affairs. Research tools: Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR, 3D QSAR): combinatorial chemistry approaches; molecular modelling in drug development; advanced synthetic chemistry including transition metal-catalysed cross coupling reactions (eg Heck, Stille, Suzuki etc) and an introduction to enantioselective organic synthesis. Case studies of individual drugs/drug classes: Case studies which are of current clinical relevance or have been important in the development of particular drug classes; use of metal complexes in medicine as diagnostic or therapeutic agents.
Learning Outcomes
- to enable students to become familiar with the major classes of natural products from living systems and to understand their modes of biosynthesis;
- to illustrate the role that metal ions play in essential metabolic and related processes in living systems;
- to illustrate the highly interdisciplinary nature of the drug discovery and development process;
- to provide students with knowledge of the wide range of techniques/tools which can be applied to this process (and thus provide a suitable background for further study or research in this area), and to develop an understanding of how these tools have been applied to the development of specific drug classes of clinical importance.
| Prerequisites: | CH2101 |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | CH2022 AND CH2032 AND CH3022 AND CH3032 AND CH5302 |
Availabilities | |
| Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2 | |
| Census Date 24-Aug-2017 | |
| Coordinator: | Assoc. Professor Michael Oelgemoeller |
| Lecturers: | Dr Murray Davies, Assoc. Professor Bruce Bowden. |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (60% - 80%); practical component (20% - 40%). |
Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.