FDCSB_FAF Structural Biology and Chemistry of Drugs

Faculty of Pharmacy
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 15 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PharmDr. Oldřich Farsa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PharmDr. Oldřich Farsa, Ph.D.
Faculty of Pharmacy
Prerequisites (in Czech)
FAKULTA(FaF)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Biomacromolecules exhibiting primary, secondary, tertiary and even quarternary structures belong among the most important parts of living organisms. Their importance for the therapy of various diseases is also crucial. Proteins, in particular receptor molecules and enzymes are therapetic targets. Some enzymes and modified receptor molecules can be, however, found among medicines as well as protein and peptide hormones, cytokines, haematopoietic factors. Last, but not least members of this series are antibodies. These are mainly therapeutic monoclonal antibodies known as mabs. Also nucleic acids, various DNA and RNA types, can be therapeutic targets, although much more frequently is the role of therapeutic targets for small molecule medicines played by enzymes taking part in their synthesis or post-synthetic modifications. Shorter or longer molecules of less or more modified nucleic acids, namely antisense oligonucleotides and DNA vaccines, can also act as therapeutics. Polysaccharides, the third important group of biogenic macromolecules,, represent also therapeutic targets, however, drugs of this type are of much greater importance (e.g. heparines, chondroitine). The advanced discipline intended for Ph.D. students is just focused on biologic macromolecules both native and modified and their interactions with low molecular drugs and other biopolymers.
Learning outcomes
The knowledge of the topics of the discipline to the extent which will be preliminarily agreed among the guarantor, Ph.D. student and his/her tutor.
Syllabus
  • Syllabi:
    1. Proteins as drugs and as drug targets. Enzymes. Hydrolases: peptidases, other amidases.
    2. Nucleic acids and their fragments as drugs and as drug targets. Antisense oligonucleotides, DNA vaccines. Various RNA types (mRNA, tRNA, miRNA) as therapeutic targets.
    3. Polysaccharides and oligosaccharides as drugs and therapeutic targets. Peptidoglycan of the microbial cell wall as a target for antibiotics.
    4. Lipides of special functions as therapeutic targets. Mycolic acids of mycobacteria. Lipoteichoic acids of Gram-positive bacteria.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BRENDA - The Comprehensive Enzyme Information System. URL info
  • MEROPS the Peptidase Database. URL info
  • UniProt Protein Data Base. URL info
  • Rawlings N.D., Savelsen G.S. (eds.). Handbook of proteolytic enzymes. London, San Diego, Waltham, 2013. ISBN 978-0-12-382219-2. info
  • Smith H. C. RNA and DNA Editing: Molecular Mechanisms and Their Integration into Biological Systems. Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, 2008. ISBN 9780470262269. info
  • Schleef M. DNA-Pharmaceuticals - Formulation and Delivery in Gene Therapy, DNA Vaccination and Immunotherapy. Weinheim, 2005. ISBN 9783527311873. info
Teaching methods
Self-study of resources recommended by the subject guarantor to the extent agreed between the subject guarantor, the DSP student and his tutor.
Assessment methods
With a mark
Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught each semester.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/pharm/spring2021/FDCSB_FAF