The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of:
1. The key components of cells that act as the building blocks for the key macromolecular structures that are essential in medicinal chemistry.
2. How macromolecules interact with each other to allow for natural cellular processes (such as gene expression) that can be exploited by medicinal chemists.
3. The key drug targets in medicinal chemistry.

(LO1) Upon successful completion of this module, a student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the chemical components of cells.

(LO2) Upon successful completion of this module, a student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the structure, chemical bonding and interactions of a range of cellular macromolecules that allow natural cellular processes to occur

(LO3) Upon successful completion of this module, a student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the key drug targets in medicinal chemistry, including enzymes, receptors and nucleic acids

(S1) Problem solving skills

The course will be taught through ~ 22 hours of online lectures via ~ 10-20 minute recordings. This will be supplemented by a number (~6) of face to face 2 hour long sessions delivered to groups of ~40 students and the assessment strategy detailed above.

Lectures: 22 hours
Tutorial: 12 hours

The course will have the following syllabus, but there is likely to be overlap in the delivery of the two sections.

FOUNDATIONS OF CELL BIOLOGY
Topic 1 (Introduction to cell biology, chemical components of cells and related thermodynamics)
• Non-covalent interactions, energy and the properties of water.
• Unity and diversity of cells
• Model organisms
• How we look at cells
• Components of cells: Sugars, fatty acids, amino acids and nucleotides
• Macromolecules in cells: A focus on non-covalent interactions

Topic 2 (DNA, chromosomes, replication and repair)
• The structure and function of DNA
• The structure of eukaryotic chromosomes
• The regulation of chromosome structure
• DNA replication
• DNA repair
• Intercalators and alkylating reagents

Topic 3 (From DNA to protein: How ce lls read the genome)
• Transcription, Translation and Ribozymes

WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLE DRUG TARGETS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY? ENZYMES, RECEPTORS & NUCLEIC ACIDS

Topic 4 (Protein structure and function)
• The basics of protein structure
• Functions of proteins
• The shape and structure of proteins (Interesting examples, protein aggregates and assemblies)
• How proteins work (Antibodies, Lysozymes, Trypsin, Small molecule cofactors)
• How proteins are controlled (Allosteric proteins)

Topic 5 (Enzymes; Structure and function)
• Enzymes as catalysts
• How do enzymes catalyse reactions
• The active site of enzymes
• Substrate binding and binding interactions
• Acid-base catalysis
• Basic enzyme kinetics

Topic 6 (Enzymes as Drug Targets)
• Reversible inhibitors
 022; Irreversible inhibitors
• Allosteric inhibitors
• Uncompetitive and non-competitive
• Transition state inhibitors
• Suicide substrates
• Medicinal uses of enzyme inhibitors

Topic 7 (Receptors; Structure, function and signal transduction)
• Role of the receptor
• Neurotransmitters and hormones
• Receptor activation
• Ion channel receptors
• Ligand gated and voltage gated ion channels
• Protein coupled receptors

Topic 8 (Receptors as Drug Targets; Agonists and Antagonists)
• Design of agonists
• Binding groups
• The design of antagonists
• Examples of agonists and antagonists

Revision session delivered at the end of the module