DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS

Building D, Room D340, Medical Sciences I; (949) 824-5863
Michael D. Cahalan, Department Chair

Faculty

Nancy L. Allbritton: Signal transduction by second messengers and protein kinases

Kenneth M. Baldwin: Developmental, hormonal, and exercise factors regulating striated muscle gene expression

Ralph A. Bradshaw: Structure and function of polypeptide growth factors and their receptors; mechanisms of protein turnover

Michael D. Cahalan: Ion channels and Ca²⁺ signaling in the immune system

Vincent J. Caiozzo: Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the mechanical properties of skeletal muscle

K. George Chandy: Molecular biology of ion channels and their role in immune cells

J. Jay Gargus: Molecular analysis of membrane signaling proteins

Alan L. Goldin: Molecular biology of neural channels and receptors

George A. Gutman: Molecular and evolutionary studies of immunoglobulin and ion channel genes

Harry T. Haigler: Structure, function, and topography of annexin calcium binding proteins on membranes

James E. Hall: Biophysics of membrane channels, gap junctions and water channels

Lan Huang: Developing and employing mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches for study of signal transduction networks, identification of protein complexes and characterization of their post-translational modifications

Frances A. Jurnak: Macromolecular crystallography; biochemical and structural studies of a model G protein; EF-Tu; structure/function of plant virulence factors

Janos K. Lanyi: Transport, structure, and energy coupling in bacteriorhodopsin and halorhodopsin

Shin Lin: Cellular and molecular biophysics of proteins involved in membrane-associated cytoskeletal functions and signal transduction

John A. Longhurst: Integrative biology and sensory signaling systems important in cardiovascular regulation; central neural regulation of autonomic outflow inactivation of cardiac afferents and the influence of electroacupuncture

Kenneth J. Longmuir: Intracellular metabolism, sorting, and transport of lipid in mammalian cells; membrane fusion

Hartmut Luecke: Protein crystallography; structure and function of membrane-associated proteins

Alexander McPherson: X-ray diffraction analyses of enzymes, viruses; antibodies and protein-nucleic acid complexes; crystallization methods; microgravity crystallization

Thomas L. Poulos: Protein crystallography; protein engineering; heme enzyme structure and function

Irwin A. Rose: Studies on the mechanism of two enzymes: fumarase and glyoxalase III

Hamid M. Said: Cellular and molecular mechanisms and regulation of intestinal and renal vitamin transporters

Christopher Sims: Development and application of innovative technologies for biomedical research and clinical applications

Ivan Soltesz: Plasticity and modulation of inhibitory synaptic neuro-transmission

Bruce J. Tromberg: Optical spectroscopy of tissues and cells

Nosratola D. Vaziri: Vascular biology and role of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in regulation of blood pressure; molecular basis of lipid disorders

Larry E. Vickery: Molecular chaperones and protein folding; protein engineering

Ping H. Wang: Molecular actions of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF) in cardiac muscle; complications of diabetes

Stephen H. White: Protein folding in membranes; peptide-bilayer interactions; membrane structure

The Department of Physiology and Biophysics offers research opportunities in the molecular biophysics of membranes and proteins, ion channels and signal transduction, endocrinology, molecular and cell biology, developmental neurobiology, and exercise physiology.

The Department offers graduate study under the auspices of the School of Biological Sciences and in conjunction with the program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry (MBGB), which is described in a previous section. Students admitted into the combined program who select a research advisor in the Department begin following the departmental requirements for the Ph.D. at the beginning of their second year.

The faculty conducts quarterly reviews of all continuing students to ensure that they are maintaining satisfactory progress within their particular academic program. Students participate in a literature review course designed to strengthen research techniques and presentation skills, and attend the weekly Department colloquium. Students advance to candidacy during the third year; each student presents a seminar on a topic assigned by the formal candidacy committee. Following the seminar, the committee examines the student's qualifications for the successful conduct of doctoral dissertation research. Each student must submit a written dissertation on an original research project and successfully defend this dissertation in an oral examination. Interdisciplinary dissertation research involving more than one faculty member is encouraged. The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is five years, and the maximum time permitted is seven years.

Several faculty in the Department are also members of the graduate program in Protein Engineering, which is described in a previous section.

Courses in Physiology and Biophysics

200 Research in Physiology and Biophysics (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S. Individual research directed toward doctoral dissertation and supervised by a particular professor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

201 Introduction to Physiology Research (1 to 4 per quarter) F, W, S. Introduction to research in physiology and related sciences. Students concentrate on techniques emphasized in the various laboratories of the Department. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

203 Review of the Literature of Physiology and Biophysics (2) F, W, S. Students review papers in the current literature and present ideas contained therein to other students and faculty. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.

204 Concepts of Biophysics (3) S. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, one hour. Principles of crystallography; introduction to time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy; the concepts of kinetic order and kinetic rate theory. Prerequisites: graduate standing in Biological Sciences and consent of instructor. Formerly Physiology 204B. Offered only if sufficient demand exists.

205 Electronics for Biologists (4) W. Lecture, three hours; laboratory four hours. Basic principles of electricity; properties and use of discrete components and integrated circuits; circuit analysis and design. Intended for advanced students in the life sciences. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 249.

206A-B Introduction to Medical Physiology (5-6) W, S. Lecture, six hours; discussion, two hours; other, two hours. Vertebrate physiology with emphasis on humans and on the relationship between the function of normal tissues and the processes of disease. Fundamental principles of physiology and the interrelationships which control organ function. Prerequisite: Physiology 202 and consent of Department.

209 Literature in Protein Engineering (1) F, W, S. Seminar, one hour, discussion, half-hour. Students review current papers in the field of protein engineering and present the ideas contained therein to other students and faculty. May be repeated for credit. Same as Molecular Biology 209.

210 Molecular Pathophysiology (3) S. Guided seminar format. Topics selected illustrate investigations into range of disease phenotypes from the organ, cell, and molecular level. Students present and guide discussion based upon assigned papers, additional research, and faculty discussions. Goal is to formulate plan of investigation. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

211 Protein Crystallography (3) S of even years. Lecture, three hours. Introduces students to the theory and practice of macromolecular crystallography. Covers all aspects, including protein crystallization, space groups, phasing methods, electron density map interpretation, refinement and preparation of results for publication. Corequisite: calculus. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Same as Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 254.

232 Physiology of Ion Channels (4) F. Lecture, one and half hours; discussion, three hours. Discusses how ion channels work (molecular/structural biophysics level) and what ion channels do in diverse cell types (cell physiology level). From generating electrical signals in the nervous system to regulating immune system function, channels are everywhere in the body doing important work. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

242 Protein Engineering (3) W of even years. The design of novel proteins and their production by genetic manipulation. Principles of protein structure and function and techniques of molecular biology relevant to protein engineering. Applications of protein technology. Prerequisites: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 203 and 204, Engineering CBEMS112; or consent of instructor. Same as Engineering CBEMS242.

252 Introduction to Proteomics (3) W. Introduces students to concepts and methods of proteomics including protein identification, expression proteomics, and protein-protein interactions.

261 Protein Stability and Structure (3) S of even years. Lecture, discussions, demonstrations; three hours. Fundamental biophysical principles of the folding and structure of proteins in aqueous and membrane environments. Analysis of key papers concerned with general structural features of proteins, protein folding, and protein structure prediction. Prerequisites: physical chemistry, graduate course in biochemistry; consent of instructor.

271A, B Molecular Physiology and Disease (4, 4). F of even years, 271A; F of odd years, 271B. Introduces students to concepts of molecular physiology and pharmacology related directly to human diseases. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Same as Pharmacology 271A, B and Pathology 271A, B.

290 Colloquium in Physiology (1-1-1) F, W, S. Seminar, one and one-half hours. Contemporary research problems in physiology. Research students, faculty, and other invited speakers introduce research and review topics. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.

292A-B-C Scientific Communication (2-2-2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours. Small group meetings for graduate students to practice scientific writing, debate, and presentation skills. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.

299 Dissertation in Physiology and Biophysics (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S, Summer. Preparation and completion of the dissertation required for the Ph.D. or Master of Science degree. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.