Molecular Life Sciences Program

Objectives

This course will first develop a structural view of biological membranes via an examination of its lipid and protein components. The membrane will be evaluated as both a selectivity filter and capacitor in living systems. Passive and active transport mechanisms for transport will be considered. The mechanism by which information flows across membranes will be a major focus, using prototype signal transduction pathways such as two-component systems, receptor tyrosine kinases, and G-protein linked receptors (GPCRs). The relationship between aberrant signal transduction and growth defects, especially cancer, will be discussed.

Text and course materials

Membrane Structural Biology, Mary Luckey, 2nd Ed. 2014. The text will be supplemented with web resources and primary literature assignments.