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529-0019-00L 6 Credits BSC D-CHAB , D-BIOL
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Characterization of the Aggregation Landscape of Peptide Amyloids and their Chemical Templating

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Roland Riek, Dr. Jason Greenwald
The enrolment is done by the D-BIOL study administration. Number of participants limited to 6.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:30:52

Abstract

Short peptide amyloids are models for their more complex protein counterparts in the study of disease-related and functional aggregation as well as being interesting in their own right as molecules that may have played a role in the origin of life. This block course will allow the students to study novel peptides in order to characterize their aggregation landscape and also to assess the ability o

Objective

During the block course, each student will learn how to handle aggregation-prone peptides, characterize their aggregation state and structure as well as assay their ability to template their own chemical synthesis.

Content

The course is divided between lectures practical work in the lab. The lectures will introduce the general topic of amyloids and in particular their potential role in the origin of molecular complexity, as well as cover the theory and the practice behind the tools that are used to characterize peptide amyloids. The practical work in the lab will allow the students to gain hands-on experience working on a novel peptide that has yet to be characterized. Since the course consists of genuine research we also hope that new discoveries will be made that will provide insights into the role that amyloids may have played in the origin of life.

Resources

Lecture Notes

A script will be distributed to the participants on the first day of the course.

Literature

Greenwald, J., Kwiatkowski, W., Riek, R. 2018. Peptide Amyloids in the Origin of Life. J. Mol. Biol. 20:3735-3750 Further literature will be indicated in the distributed script.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Credit points can only be earned if the candidate (i) actively takes part in the entire 3.5-week program, (ii) turns in a final report, and (iii) obtains at least grade 4.0 (scale 1-6; 4 = pass; 6 being the best grade). The grade reflects the performance of each participant and is based on: (1) effort/participation/presentation (30%), (2) skills or acquisition of skills during the course (30%), and (3) quality of the report (40%).Cancellation: If you have to deregister from a course that has been assigned to you (just emergency reasons), please notify in written the course coordinator at least four weeks before the course starts, for courses in the 1st quarter, a cancellation period of one week applies. The study secretariat D-BIOL must also be informed (email CC [email protected]) so that the enrollment is deleted. Otherwise the course is considered as "failed".

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
practical/laboratory course Characterization of the Aggregation Landscape of Peptide Amyloids and their Chemical Templating
Block course in the fourth quarter of the semester.
No time listed 100 h semesterly

Offered In