分子自组装在自然界中是普遍存在的，而且最近已经在化学合成、纳米技术、高分子科学、材料与工程领域成为一种新的研究手段。分子自组装系统是分子生物学、化学、高分子科学、材料科学与工程之间的交叉学科。

文中我们将向不同背景的学生(生医工程、生物、生物工程、生物物理、化学工程、材料科学与相关领域)传授有用的基础生物材料分子结构原理。我们会利用各种的生物材料，如胶原蛋白、丝蛋白、羊毛、毛发、骨骼、外壳、蛋白质附着物与萤光蛋白质来阐明关键的结构原理。而且，核酸、糖类与脂质类材料也会包括在内。重要的是此课程将运用分子结构原理来阐述新型生物材料的分子设计。例如，将会从了解氨基酸的分子结构与特性的观点来描述自组装肽的设计。

新材料与技术的发展通常会扩大我们能够应付的问题，因此也加深了我们对似乎是棘手现象的了解。分子自组装系统将在分子水平上创造一种新型材料。可以相信，运用这些简单多用途的分子自组装系统，将能够提供给我们研究一些复杂与之前认为是棘手问题的生物现象的机会。藉由分子设计与生物模块自组装的分子工程，是一项可能将在未来科技上扮演越来越重要的角色，而且将在未来几十年内改变我们生活的技术。

教科书

Branden and Tooze《蛋白质结构导论》第二版，Garland Press, 1999.

其它参考资料(非必须)

Stryer, Lubert. 《生物化学》 New York: W. H. Freeman & Co., 2002.

Zubay, Geoffrey. 《生物化学》 Oxford, U.K.: W C. Brown Publishers, 1999.

Matthews, Christopher K. & K. E. Van Holde. 《生物化学》 Menlo Park, CA: Benjamin Cummings Pub Co., 1995.

Creighton, Thomas. 《蛋白质、结构与分子性质》. New York: W. H. Freeman & Co., 1993.

结构

授课是以自由的方式每周上二次课。鼓励讨论。

会给予额外原始研究论文以对不同课题进一步了解。其它书目建议可做为选择性的背景资料阅读。

评分

一次期中考试：占30%
期终设计或论文综述：占70%

Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in nature and has recently emerged as a new approach in chemical synthesis, nanotechnology, polymer science, materials and engineering. Molecular self-assembly systems lie at the interface between molecular biology, chemistry, polymer science, materials science and engineering.

We will focus on conveying basic molecular structural principles of biological materials in a context useful to students from various disciplines (biomedical engineering, biology, biological engineering, biophysics, chemical engineering, materials science, and related fields). Various materials of biological origin, such as collagens, silks, wool, hair, bone, shells, protein adhesives, and fluorescent proteins are used to illustrate the key structural principles. Also, nucleic acid, saccharide, and lipid-based materials will be included. Importantly, the class will address molecular design of new biological materials by application of the molecular structural principles. For example, the design of self-assembling peptides will be described from the perspective of understanding the molecular structure and properties of amino acids.

Development of new materials and technologies often broadens the questions we can address therefore deepen our understanding of seemingly intractable phenomena. Molecular self-assembly systems will create a new class of materials at the molecular level. It is believed that application of these simple and versatile molecular self-assembly systems will provide us with new opportunities to study some complex and previously intractable biological phenomena. Molecular engineering through molecular design and self-assembly of biological building blocks is an enabling technology that will likely play an increasingly important role in the future technology and will change our lives in the coming decades.

Textbook

Branden and Tooze. Introduction to Protein Structure. 2nd ed. Garland Press, 1999.

Additional References (not required)

Stryer, Lubert. Biochemistry. New York: W. H. Freeman & Co., 2002.

Zubay, Geoffrey. Biochemistry. Oxford, U.K.: W C. Brown Publishers, 1999.

Matthews, Christopher K. & K. E. Van Holde. Biochemistry. Menlo Park, CA: Benjamin Cummings Pub Co., 1995.

Creighton, Thomas. Proteins, Structures and Molecular Properties. New York: W. H. Freeman & Co., 1993.

Structure

Lectures are given twice a week in an informal class setting. Discussion is encouraged.

Additional original research papers are given to provide advanced understanding of various topics. Other texts are suggested as optional background reading.

Grading

One midterm: 30% of grade
Final project or review paper: 70% of grade