Biochemical Techniques

This module aims to provide a foundation in the core techniques utilised in protein purification.

Each week the lectures and practicals lead students through the variety of techniques used to purify proteins. The lectures provide students with an understanding of the biochemical methods commonly used and their significance within a protein purification strategy. Practicals will be tightly linked to the lectures, with students being required to follow a purification strategy over the course of the module. Starting with a mixture of proteins, students are set the task of purifying one of the proteins on the basis of their biochemical properties.

This module has four core topics that direct students through the purification process. They are:

• Introduction to protein purification and bulk preliminary purification techniques
• Chromatography techniques for protein purification
• Protein and enzyme assay techniques
• Gel electrophoresis and associated techniques.