After successful completion of the course, students are able to operate thermodynamic calculations, to apply the principle of Gibb‘s free energy, to determine protein-relevant parameters, to calculate simple reaction kinetics and cooperativity examples, to define the two basic cellular transport processes as well as to analyse charges and charge fluxes at/through the cellular plasma membrane.
The exercises are strongly related to the main course held by Gerhard Schütz. Examples cover most topics presented in the main lecture. Starting with simple examples dealing with bio(physical) terminology, we will focus on thermodynamic aspects like Gibb's Free energy and non-ideal behavior of macromolecules and their application to determine protein-relevant parameters. After calculating simple reaction kinetics and cooperativity examples we focus on the two basic cellular transport processes, namely Brownian diffusion and directed motion. The envelope of a live cell - the plasma membrane - and its composition and resulting biophysical parameters will cover the remaining part of the course.
Prior to each tutorial exercises are handed out which have to be solved and afterwards discussed in class. Non-solved exercises will be discussed during the class as well.
Grading is based on the number of elaborated exercises and a written examination closely related to the presented examples during the course.