Information for students

Sub-module of the methods course "Fundamentals of Structural Biochemistry"

Additional information / Pre-requisites

The course will take place at the HZB/Bessy from 27.04. -30.04.26 and at the MDC from 04.05.-07.05.26.

The exact dates and places (HZB/BESSY and MDC) upon request (both are planned individual from each group and are dependant on the process of the experiments).

Concluding seminar on 08.05.2026

Comments

Method module: Fundamentals of Structural Biochemistry 
University/Department/Institute: Freie Universität Berlin/Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy/Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
Person responsible for the module: Lecturers of the module 
Admission requirements: none 

Qualification goals: Students learn methods for the preparation of biological macromolecules and for structural analysis. They acquire the theoretical basics of macromolecular structural analysis methods. Students are able to assess macromolecular properties that play a role in structural analysis. They will be able to critically evaluate manuscripts in which macromolecular structures and structural analyses are described and assess the quality of macromolecular structures. Contents: Preparation of a sample of a biological macromolecule for structural analysis; bioinformatic, biochemical or biophysical characterization of a biological macromolecule; performance of one or more procedures for structural analysis; structural description and graphical representation of structures; presentation of structural biology experiments and results. 
Content of the seminar: 

Protein production and characterization 
Protein crystallization and protein crystals 
Crystallographic symmetry 
X-ray diffraction theory 
The phase problem and phasing strategies 
Electron density, model building, refinement, validation