About the Tutorial |
Biomolecular Structures is an Internet tutorial intended as a computer-based laboratory exercise for undergraduate students in basic biochemistry. It was designed to accompany the textbook Biochemistry (2nd ed.), by C.K. Mathews and K.E. van Holde (Benjamin/Cummings, 1996), but can be used together with any introductory course on biochemistry and biophysics.The following topics are covered:
The tutorial makes use of the Chemscape Chime plug-in and JavaScript 1.1. Thus, Netscape Navigator 3.01 (or later) is required. The Chemscape Chime plug-in from MDL Information Systems Inc. (http://www.mdli.com/) makes it possible to embed molecular graphics in the HTML pages. Complex biomolecules can be displayed at various levels of atomic detail and the user can rotate and magnify the molecules to experience their three-dimensional structure. Particular attention has been paid to the design of the user interface so that students which are not so experienced with computers can navigate easily through the course. A form with simple questions is included. Extensive help is available to guide the user.
- Amino acids
- Movement, atom coloring and molecular representation
- Chemical groups
- Stereoisomers
- Atom labelling
- Side chain properties
- Peptides
- Primary sequence
- Molecular dynamics
- Proteins
- BPTI
- Hemoglobin
- Plastocyanin
- Alcohol dehydrogenase
- Nucleotides
- Chemical groups
- AMP and dAMP
- Purines
- Pyrimidines in DNA
- Pyrimidines in RNA
- Nucleotide coenzymes
- Nucleic acids
- B-DNA
- A-DNA
- Z-DNA
- A protein/DNA complex
- Transfer RNA
Since December 1996, a large number of biochemistry students have run the course as a 2.5 hour laboratory exercise in our computer lab. Their response has been very positive.
A link to the course can be found at the following URL: http://www.bcbp.gu.se/ (select Courses from the menu).