https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_1260To learn, understand and work with modern analytical chemistry in life sciences to separate, bioassay and identify bioactive proteins. More specifically, you will learn ways to find biologically active proteins in mixtures (these mixtures will be highly active venoms from different venomous species including insects, snakes and tropical marine animals such as cone snails), purify them and finally identify them using proteomics techniques.During this course the potential of modern analytical and biological screening techniques used in bioactivity screening of bioactive proteins will be discussed. The emphasis will be on finding bioactive proteins in complex biological samples by LC-MS in combination with post-column bioassays. Protein identification strategies using bottom-up proteomics proteomics approaches will be focused on during this course. You will learn how to find biologically active proteins in complex mixtures and know how to identify these proteins by their (partial) amino acid sequence. Sample treatment and advanced sample preparation techniques will play an important part in this as well as LC-MS, bioassays and database searches with the proteomics data obtained. We will work with natural extracts such as snake venoms as our complex biological samples, which contain potential biopharmaceutical candidate proteins.The course starts with a thorough explanation of the course and its contents. Then we will start with the practical work. Before and in between the practical work, material will be provided to the students on the theoretical background, the research topic, the techniques used, and the methodologies applied during the practical work. Some or all of the needed background material (in the form of lectures) will be provided as pre-recorded self study lecturing material before the course starts. Also Movie files with experimental demonstrations and explanations on the data processing will be provided. Relevant material and literature will be provided via Canvas. All students will (besides their practical report) work on a literature assignment related to a topic on bioactivity profiling in biopharmaceutical settings. Teams of students (teams of two or three students are anticipated) will be formed for the practical research work and for the literature assignment. The literature assignment will result in a short group report and a group presentation.The mark given for the literature assignment (i.e. both the group report and the group presentation) will constitute 50% of the final mark. The mark of the practical work and the practical report also constitutes 50% of the final mark. This mark is given for the insights shown, motivation and other relevant issues such as presence during the course, practical course report, safety considerations and practical results obtained Both marks have to be at least 5.5. Presence during the practical course days is obligatory.to study is mainly from e-books (chapters) and from academic papers/reviews. All literature needed can be found in the course documents on Canvas. Tutorials will be given by the course supervisors during the practical work. All PowerPoint pre-recorded lectures will be placed on Canvas as Movie files and as PDFs. All PDF e-book chapters and other literature (e.g. academic research papers and reviews) can be found on or via Canvas. Also Movie files on experimental procedures and data processing will be provided as well as assisting documents with experimental procedures.Master phase practical course.Basic knowledge of biochemistry, separation sciences and mass spectrometry.