Natural Sciences

Life is dependent on the conservation of energy derived from various sources (food or light for example). These processes use a plethora of sophisticated membrane-associated protein complexes that drive electron transport, generate proton gradients and synthesise ATP (and reductant in the case of photosynthesis). In mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, the electron transport chain culminates in ATP synthesis and the reduction of oxygen to water. In anaerobic mitochondria, other terminal acceptors are being used resulting in various different end-products. In chloroplasts, light-driven electron transport is used for ATP synthesis and CO₂ reduction. These reactions must be tightly controlled to match energy supply with demand otherwise potentially toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS: superoxide; hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals) can form. While causing damage if not controlled by the cellular antioxidant system, ROS also act as signalling molecules to mitigate damage by altering gene expression and metabolism. In this module you will study the respiratory and photosynthetic reaction centres and gain an understanding of their evolution, organisation, reaction mechanisms and regulation. The mechanisms of ROS formation and scavenging will be covered as well as their role as signalling molecules in photosynthesis.

In order to take BIOM517 you must have already completed NSC1003 Foundations in Natural Science.

BIOM517 is an optional module for MSci Natural Sciences students only. You cannot take this module if you have already taken BIO3093 Energy Metabolism.

The Energy Metabolism module aims to advance your knowledge of metabolic biochemistry by studying in detail the reactions in anaerobic energy metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis, and appreciate how these reactions can lead to the generation of oxidative stress. How these reactive oxygen species (ROS) are controlled and managed is key to the survival and function of the cell. During this module you will engage critically with current scientific literature and methodology in order to gain a rounded understanding of the limits of current research in bioenergetics and oxidative stress in a number of diverse model systems.

The skills you gain from lectures and seminars will develop or enhance your employability. Transferable skills to other sectors include: problem solving (linking theory to practice, responding to novel and unfamiliar problems, data handling), time management (managing time effectively individually and within a group), collaboration (taking initiative and leading others, supporting others in their work), self and peer review (taking responsibility for own learning, using feedback from multiple sources) and audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively in multiple formats).

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge5.

The contents of the module will be selected from the following subject areas:

Oxidative phosphorylation

Photosynthesis

Electron transfer reactions

Proton translocation reactions

Respiratory metalloprotein complexes

Oxidative stress

Evolution of energy metabolism

Anaerobic energy metabolism

Redox control of photosynthetic enzymes

Dealing with excess excitation energy in photosynthesis

Production of reactive oxygen species in photosynthesis

The role of vitamin C in photosynthesis

How photosynthesis communicates with the chloroplast and nuclear genomes

For the student-led journal clubs you will work in a small group (normally three/four per group) to analyse, evaluate and present primary publication journal articles to the class (including all academic staff). The presentation will be followed by questions and discussion involving the whole class. Articles will be chosen by the lecturers. Your group will have two weeks to research and prepare your journal club, during which time you will meet and receive guidance from one of the lecturers associated with the module. Your journal club presentation will have formative assessment with feedback during the sessions. The content of the sessions could be covered in the final examinations.

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further literature review. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 50%.

Basic reading:

Voet D and Voet JG (2011) Biochemistry, 4th Ed., John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0-470-57095-4

Berg JM, Tymoczko JL and Stryer L (2011) Biochemistry, 7^th Ed., Freeman, ISBN 1-429-27635-5

Garrett RH and Grisham CM (2009) Biochemistry, 4^th Ed., Brooks and Cole, ISBN 0-495-79078-8

Nicholls DG and Ferguson SJ (2013) Bioenergetics 4, Academic press, ISBN 9780123884251

Halliwell B and Gutteridge JMC (1998) Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine 3^rd edn. Oxford Univ Press ISBN 0 19850044 0

Bowsheer C, Steer M and Tobin A (2008). Plant Biochemistry. Garland Science. ISBN 0-8153-4121-0

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Other Resources:

Journal reviews and research articles will be recommended.

Reading list for this module: