Paola Chiarugi

6 ECTS: 48 hours of lectures

After an introduction on protein structure, their structural classification and synthesis (concerning mechanism and regulation), the course will describe post-translational modifications, protein targeting (membrane, mitochondria, nucleus), protein folding and protein degradation (lysosomal system, autophagy).

The course will then focus on the knowledge of the various techniques applied in protein engineering with biotechnological applications: planning from scratch of protein structures, rational design of new functions, molecular modelling, and docking, mutagenesis (site-directed and random), as well as, isolation methods of function-optimized protein variants.   

Various methods of expression of recombinant proteins will be discussed, presenting the pro and cons of the different approaches to the modification of protein properties and of the various systems for the heterologous expression. The course will end with a review of the therapeutic applications of recombinant proteins and their use in industry. Some case studies will be presented.