Close
Description
Molecular Pharmacology is designed to provide core material on the structure and function of neurotransmitter and hormone receptors and the quantitative aspects of the action of drugs at these receptors. The molecular nature of receptors is considered in detail and a critical and quantitative approach to the analysis and interpretation of pharmacological data beginning with the physical chemical principles which underlie drug-receptor interactions is developed.听
Formal lectures will be supplemented by a radioligand binding data analysis assignment and either sodium channel block data analysis or (for Level-7 students) an introductory bioinformatics exercise.听
On completion of the module, students should be able to:听
1) Use the Law of Mass Action to quantify the interaction of drugs and receptors.听
2) Understand the action of agonists, antagonists and allosteric modulator drugs and the concept of efficacy.听
3) Demonstrate advanced knowledge of ion channel receptor function, regulation and block听
4) Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the structure and function of transporters, ion channel receptors and G protein-coupled receptors听
5) Demonstrate advanced understanding of radioligand binding.听
The module is a core module for BSc/MSci Pharmacology students and an option for Natural Sciences, Neurosciences and Biomedical Sciences students and for students in related degree programmes (including affiliate students). It is assumed that students taking the module will have studied aspects of physiology and biochemistry for at least two years at University level. 听
Indicative lecture list (based on 2023/24 syllabus)听
-
Receptors, early ideas, concentration-response curves听
-
Agonist Efficacy (4 lectures)听
-
Single Molecule Concepts听
-
Constitutive Activity听
-
Bioinformatics Introduction听
-
Drug Antagonism and allosteric modulators (3 lectures)听
-
Radioligand Binding (2 lectures)听
-
PET and SPECT听
-
Uptake Transporters听
-
Rates of Drug Action听
-
Channel Blockers听
-
7TM domain Receptor Structure-Function听
-
CFTR and ABC Transporter Structure-Function听
-
LGIC Receptor Structure-Function听
-
Receptor Pharmacology in Drug Discovery听
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 8th April 2024.
听