BIO428 Structural Biology
BIO428 Structural Biology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Genetics and Bioengineering
Betul Akcesme
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course aims to provide the knowledge of the basic protein molecular architecture and then to connect it to the basic cellular processes like enzymatic activity, transport, and membrane functions.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Introduction to Protein Structure, Branden and Tooze
Additional Literature
Textbook of Structural Biology, Anders Liljas , Lars Liljas , Jure Piskur, Göran Lindblom,Poul Nissen and Morten Kjeldgaard The Structures of Life-National Institutes of Health (Booklet) Proteins Structure and Function, Whitford Protein Structure and Function: From Sequence to Consequence, Gregory A. Petsko and Dagmar RingeTeaching Methods
Lecture presentations with powerpoint and class discussions
Visual materials are provided to better explain the concept
Students are responsible to do assignments based on the topics
Project and student presentations
Also, practical computational work will be integrated
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Structural Biology | |
| 2 | Protein Structure and Protein Structural Hierarchy / Protein Databases (PDB) | |
| 3 | Protein Structure Hierarchy(Contd) /Alpha domain /Protein Databases (PDBkb, Uniprot) | |
| 4 | Beta Domains / Protein Visualisation tools (Pymol) | |
| 5 | Alpha & Beta Domains / QUIZ I ( (Assignment I) | |
| 6 | Protein Folding & Flexibility | |
| 7 | Protein Folding & Flexibility and Thermodynamics of folding | |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | DNA structure and DNA binding proteins in prokaryotes | |
| 10 | DNA recognition by eukaryotic transcription factors (Assignment II) | |
| 11 | Membran Proteins/ Viral proteins | |
| 12 | Prediction, Engineering, and Design of Protein Structures I (QUIZ II) | |
| 13 | Prediction, Engineering, and Design of Protein Structures II | |
| 14 | NON-WORKING DAY ((Assignment III) | |
| 15 | Final Revision and Presentations of the the projects |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO428.1 | Course | Wednesday 14:00 - 16:50 | B F2.2 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 11:00 - 13:00 | A F1.34 | |
| Wednesday | 12:00 - 14:00 | A F1.34 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Project&Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Quizzes
14 hours ⏳ (2 week × 7 h)
Midterm
22 hours ⏳ (2 week × 11 h)
Assignments
12 hours ⏳ (3 week × 4 h)
Final
33 hours ⏳ (3 week × 11 h)
Projects
24 hours ⏳ (6 week × 4 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BIO428] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO428 | Structural Biology | 3 | 0 | 6 | Wednesday -14.00 -16.45 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Betul Akcesme | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 11:00-13:00 Wednesday: 12:00-14:00 |
|||||||
| bakcesme@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course aims to provide the knowledge of the basic protein molecular architecture and then to connect it to the basic cellular processes like enzymatic activity, transport, and membrane functions. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Introduction to Protein Structure, Branden and Tooze | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lecture presentations with powerpoint and class discussions. Visual materials are provided to better explain the concept. Students are responsible to do assignments based on the topics. Project and student presentations. Also, practical computational work will be integrated. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Structural Biology | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Protein Structure and Protein Structural Hierarchy / Protein Databases (PDB) | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Protein Structure Hierarchy(Contd) /Alpha domain /Protein Databases (PDBkb, Uniprot) | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Beta Domains / Protein Visualisation tools (Pymol) | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Alpha & Beta Domains / QUIZ I ( (Assignment I) | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Protein Folding & Flexibility | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Protein Folding & Flexibility and Thermodynamics of folding | |||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | DNA structure and DNA binding proteins in prokaryotes | |||||||||
| Week 10 | DNA recognition by eukaryotic transcription factors (Assignment II) | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Membran Proteins/ Viral proteins | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Prediction, Engineering, and Design of Protein Structures I (QUIZ II) | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Prediction, Engineering, and Design of Protein Structures II | |||||||||
| Week 14 | NON-WORKING DAY ((Assignment III) | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Revision and Presentations of the the projects | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quizzes | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignment | 3 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Project&Presentation | 1 | 15 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Quizzes | 7 | 2 | 14 | |||
| Midterm | 11 | 2 | 22 | Assignments | 4 | 3 | 12 | |||
| Final | 11 | 3 | 33 | Projects | 4 | 6 | 24 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||