2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Biomaterial Function
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Saeko Yanaka
- Class Format
- Lecture (Livestream)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon (G2-201 (G223))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.C421
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jun 9, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Proteins are major components within living organisms and are not only closely related to life phenomena but are also used as pharmaceuticals in the form of antibody drugs, etc. Understanding protein function requires understanding aspects such as the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Recently, the creation of molecules (such as drugs) that inhibit protein function is often carried out based on the three-dimensional structure of proteins and intermolecular interactions. Therefore, the purpose of this lecture is to first learn the basic knowledge about the structure of proteins and to understand that the structure of proteins is closely related to physiological functions.
Course description and aims
Knowledge: Understand and be able to explain the basic knowledge related to proteins covered in the lectures.
Technical Skills: Acquire analytical skills related to the proteins covered in the lectures.
Transferable Skills: Acquire an overview of protein structure and function.
Keywords
Protein, Amino acid, Protein folding, Structural stability, Protein structure, Protein interactions
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures will be held during sessions 1-5. Sessions 6 and 7 will be practical exercises. You will submit your report in session 8.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What are Proteins, Protein Higher-Order Structure (or Protein Quaternary Structure) (Protein Science Chapters 1 & 2), Interactions that Maintain Protein Conformation or Interactions that Maintain Protein 3D Structure (Protein Science Chapter 3). | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 2 | Interactions that Maintain Protein Conformation or Interactions that Maintain Protein 3D Structure (Protein Science Chapter 3), Protein folding and misfolding, Molecular chaperones, Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs/IUPs), and Protein purification (Protein Science Chapters 4 & 11). | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 3 | Protein subunit structure and protein-small molecule interactions (Protein Science Chapters 5 & 7), Protein-protein interactions (Protein Science Chapter 8). | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 4 | Techniques for Investigating Protein Conformation (Protein Science Chapter 5). | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 5 | Diverse Protein Molecular Systems that Constitute Life (Protein Science Chapter 10). | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 6 | Practical Session 1: Investigating Protein Structure. | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 7 | Practical Session 2: Investigating Protein Structure. | An assignment will be given and must be submitted during class. |
| Class 8 | An assignment will be given. | An assignment will be given and must be submitted by the due date. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Textbook is not needed
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Please download and refer to the lecture materials, which will be uploaded to the system prior to the beginning of the class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
The evaluation will be based on a comprehensive assessment of the regular assignments (8 points each) and the final assignment (44 points), with a maximum score of 100 points.
Related courses
- STM.C404 ： Outline of Science and Technology for Health Care and Medicine I
Prerequisites
This course builds upon a foundation of high school 'Chemistry'. While not strictly required, familiarity with basic molecular biology (e.g., from a 'Basic Biology' course) will enhance your comprehension.