Glycobiology: Glycan Function in Health & Disease

BIOL31321 Glycobiology: Glycan Function in Health & Disease 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 3 David Thornton Unit coordinator School of Biological Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 Glycans provide important mechanisms for cell recognition, cell adhesion, growth factor signalling and extracellular matrix organisation. You will study the biology and pathobiology underlying processes such as mucosal protection against intestinal parasitic worms, trafficking of immune cells to sites of injury/infection and migration of tumour cells.  Glycans provide important mechanisms for cell recognition, cell adhesion, growth factor signalling and extracellular matrix organisation. They also contribute importantly to protein folding during biosynthesis and targeting of glycoproteins to their site of action. You will study the biology and pathobiology underlying processes such as mucosal protection against intestinal parasitic worms, trafficking of immunecells to sites of injury/infection, migration of tumour cells and microbial glycobiology in disease and disease prevention.  The unit will introduce students to the range of structures and cellular mechanisms of synthesis of protein-associated glycans. We aim for students to gain an understanding of the range of biological roles they play in cell and tissue functions in health and disease, and how these can be investigated at an experimental level.  Students will be able to:<ul><li>Understand the molecular diversity and widespread expression of protein-associated glycans</li><li>Describe the structure and biosynthesis of the major groups of glycans</li><li>Appreciate how glycosylation modulates the structure, properties and functions of proteins</li><li>Understand the concept that glycans are key factors in biological recognition</li><li>Understand the critical roles glycans play in fundamental cellular processes          Understand and apply tools for the determination of glycan content and function in biological systems</li><li>Use experimental data to increase their knowledge of glycan structure and function and to enhance their problem-solving and analytical skills</li></ul> Analytical skills Problem solving - either in lecture or online. Group/team working Answering questions in special problem solving lectures. Innovation/creativity These skills are needed for solving problems. Oral communication Students answer questions during the lecture and in 'problem solving' lectures. Problem solving Either in lecture or online. Research Course associated extra reading. Written communication Essays in final exam. • Structural diversity in glycans, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, proteoglycans.• Mechanisms of biosynthesis and how manipulating biosynthesis gives insight into glycan function.• The range of biological functions to which glycosylation contributes.• Mucosal protection (innate immunity) against bacteria and parasites.• The Glycocalyx.• Trafficking of immune cells to sites of injury/infection and migration of tumour cells.• Cellular action, location and organization of glycosyltransferase enzymes for O-linked and N-linked glycan biosynthesis.• The role of N-linked glycosylation in protein folding and targeting.• Microbial glycobiology and its role in disease and disease prevention.• Disease models involving gene mutation and knockout in the N-linked glycan biosynthesis pathway.• Critical function of co-translational glycosylation on protein folding and secretion.• Specificity in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis.• Generation and identification of selective protein binding sequences in glycosaminoglycans.• Roles in growth factor signalling.• Lessons to be learnt from knockouts and mutations.e-Learning ActivityThe course will be supported by a Canvas e-learning module and discussion boards. 1 Written exam 75% 9 Set exercise 25% Written exam: The exam (75% of marks) will consist of 4 questions and students are required to answer one of these; worth 100% of the available marks.  Set exercise: Online coursework assessment: A problem-based eLearning exercise (25% of marks) on glycan structure consisting of short questions.Feedback methods Feedback will be provided directly via online discussion boards and through comments on directed self-assessments carried out by each student as part of e-learning activities and in-lecture problem solving sessions. A pre-exam ’revision’ session provides feedback on past exam questions. Post-exam feedback is offered to each student via a face to face meeting.   BIOL21111 Proteins Pre-Requisite Recommended BIOL21162 Pre-Requisite Recommended <ul> <li> BIOL21111 Proteins (Recommended)</li> <li> BIOL21162 Chemistry of Biomolecules (Recommended)</li> </ul> N No text book covers the entire unit. However, ‘Introduction to Glycobiology’ provides a good general background to many aspects of Glycobiology. ‘Essentials in Glycobiology’ provides more in-depth coverage of some aspects of the course.Additional references will be given in lectures. Assessment written exam 1.5 Lectures 18 0 80.5