Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Cell Biology and Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
Module Code	BE352
School	School of Biotechnology
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Paul Cahill Semester 2: Paul Cahill Autumn: Paul Cahill
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

To provide a good practical 'hands-on' experience of a sequential multistep protein purification scheme. To provide a practical experience of standard protein analysis methodologies. To provide practical experience of some basic techniques in cell culture To provide a detailed understanding of the methods used in practical immunology. To introduce the students to HPLC analysis.

Learning Outcomes

1. Perform routine protein purification operations (salt precipitation, ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatographies)
2. Measure the activity of an enzyme
3. Measure the concentration of soluble protein in a sample
4. Perform gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and western blotting of proteins with appropriate standards and concentration/ staining techniques
5. Calculate the specific activity of an enzyme and the titre of an antibody
6. Evaluate the effectiveness of a purification operation in terms of yield and purification factor
7. Perform basic cell culture and cell counting
8. Perform an ELISA assay

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Laboratory	72	No Description
Independent learning	53	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

CELL CULTURE AND IMMUNOLOGY.
Cell counting and basic cell culture; Cell lysis and sonication and separation of cellular proteins by SDS gel electrophoresis; Identification of intracellular signaling proteins by western blotting; Measurement of secreted cellular proteins by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

PROTEIN PURIFICATION AND ANALYSIS.
Assay for lysozyme activity and protein; Preparation of crude lysozyme from egg-white; Salt precipitation of lysozyme by 'step-wise salting-out' with ammonium sulphate; Purification of 'partially-purified' lysozyme by Cation-exchange chromatography; Concentration of lysozyme by reverse osmosis using solid polyethylene glycol; Purification of concentrated lysozyme by gel-filtration chromatography; Analysis of lysozyme fractions by SDS Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE).

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Report (s) (written / oral)	n/a	100%	Week 27

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 2

Indicative Reading List