The course meets twice weekly and consists of one lecture and one session for student oral presentations and discussion of assigned research pertinent to the lecture topic. The course requires extensive readings in the original literature and consists of seminars presented by the students and group discussion. One two hour session per week features readings, presentations by students, and group discussions with selected laboratory demonstration sessions. Topics include freeze fracture and negative stain analysis of membrane structure, localization of antibodies and other probes by fluorescence and electron microscopy, quantitative stereology of membranes, autoradiography, and electron probe analysis. Covers advances in the interactions of proteins and lipids in biological membranes and the importance of these interactions in normal cellular functions.
Emphasis is on proteins involved in signaling.
Students learn about membrane processes in health and disease, from the identification of disease-related genes in membrane systems to their impact on cell and organ function. Two or three one-hour classes per topic consist of interactive discussions following assigned readings and brief lectures. A permission slip from the program director or instructor is necessary to enroll in this course.