Building D, Room 240, Medical Sciences I; (714) 824-6051
Stuart M. Arfin, Department Chair (Acting)
Faculty
Stuart M. Arfin: Protein processing and turnover; functions of ubiquitin
Chris L. Greer: RNA processing and nuclear export; tRNA gene expression
Haoping Liu: Signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, hypha development in yeast
Calvin S. McLaughlin: Macromolecule biosynthesis; control of cell division
Masayasu Nomura: RNA polymerase I; nucleolus and ribosome synthesis; nuclear transport and function
Robert E. Steele: Molecular biology of Hydra development
Leslie M. Thompson: Molecular/biochemical analysis of skeletal dysplasias and Huntington's Disease
Faculty research interests in the Department of Biological Chemistry focus on the regulation of gene expression, (RNA splicing, mammalian chromosomal organization, and nucleic acid-protein interactions), the regulation of cellular processes (membrane-hormone interactions, regulation of protein synthesis, molecular genetics of metabolic processes, and intracellular protein localization), and the molecular basis of development. Students are exposed to technical expertise in all facets of current research in molecular biochemistry from protein chemistry to genetic engineering.
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, 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 third year. Students are required to attend and participate in the departmental Journal Club and are required to attend departmental seminars. In addition, students are required to complete two advanced-level graduate courses subsequent to entering the Department's Ph.D. concentration. In the third year, students take the advancement-to-candidacy examination for the Ph.D. degree by presenting and defending a proposal for specific dissertation research. Completion of the Ph.D. normally requires five years of graduate study.
Several faculty in the Department also are members of the graduate program in Protein Engineering, which is described in a previous section.
210A Biochemistry and Cell Biology (12) F. Lectures and seminars. Biological chemistry and cell biology for first-year medical and graduate students. Presents the metabolism and molecular biology relevant to human health and disease that form the foundation of medical science for the next century. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
291 Topics in Gene Regulation (2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours.
Additional courses are taught by and with faculty from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Topics in advanced graduate courses offered by the Department include human genetics, growth factors and oncogenes, yeast molecular genetics, and protein/nucleic acid interactions
Building B, Room 240, Medical Sciences I; (714) 824-5261
Bert L. Semler, Department Chair
Faculty
Alan G. Barbour: Microbial pathogenesis
Dennis D. Cunningham: Proteases and protease nexins: regulation of neural cells
Alan L. Goldin: Molecular analysis of ion channel function
Sidney H. Golub: Cellular immunity and tumor biology
George A. Gutman: Potassium channel and immunoglobulin super-family genes
G. Wesley Hatfield: Effects of DNA topology on transcription
Suzanne B. Sandmeyer: Molecular genetics of a position-specific yeast retrovirus-like element
Rozanne M. Sandri-Goldin: Regulatory functions of a post-transcriptionally acting herpes virus protein
Michael E. Selsted: Host defense systems in phagocytic leukocytes and mucosal epithelium
Bert L. Semler: Replication of picornavirus RNAs; RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions
Eric J. Stanbridge: Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in human cancer
Marian L. Waterman: Regulation of transcription in human T lymphocytes
The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics provides advanced training to individuals interested in the regulation of gene expression and the structural and functional properties of proteins encoded by these genes. The research interests of the Department focus on the molecular biology and genetics of viruses, bacteria, and yeast; the fundamentals of the immune response; the molecular biology of cultured animal cells; the genetic basis of cancer; and the genetics and physiology of infectious agents.
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, 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 third year.
Participation in the Department's seminar series and completion of at least one advanced topics course per year for three years are expected of all students. In their third year, students take the advancement-to-candidacy examination for the Ph.D. degree by presenting and defending a proposal for specific dissertation research. Completion of the Ph.D. normally requires five years of graduate study.
200A-B-C Research in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S. Individual research supervised by a particular professor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
201A-B-C Research Topics in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
(1-1-1) F, W, S. Lecture and seminar. Seminars presented by graduate students and faculty of the Department which explore research topics in specialized areas of microbiology and molecular genetics. Opportunity for students to gain experience in the organization, critical evaluation, and oral presentation of current research developments. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only.
203A-B-C Advanced Studies in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
(1-1-1) F, W, S. Organized within each laboratory group, one to four hours. Advanced study in areas related to faculty research interests. Involves small group study based on readings, discussions, and guest speakers. May be conducted as journal clubs. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only. May be repeated for credit.
210A-B Medical Microbiology (4-6) W, S. Lecture, five hours; laboratory, three hours. Advanced course for medical students in the College of Medicine. Biochemical and genetic properties of infectious agents, identification and behavior of pathogens, activities of toxins, chemotherapy, biochemical genetics of drug resistance, humoral and cell-mediated immunity, introduction to diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of infectious diseases. Prerequisites: prior course work in microbiology and biochemistry and consent of instructor.
213 Advanced Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics (4) W. Lecture. Molecular models for biological systems draw heavily on prokaryotic organisms and their viruses. Topics: bacterial and phage genetics, regulation of transcription and translation in prokaryotes. Applies knowledge of these processes to understanding of metabolism and development at the organismic level.
215 Molecular Immunology (4) S. Lecture/seminar, three hours. Discussion and student presentation with the aim of achieving a basic understanding of the haematopoietic system, and the cellular and molecular basis of adaptive immunity. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
216 Pathogenic Microbiology (4) S. Lecture, four hours. Biochemical and genetic properties of infectious agents; identification and behavior of pathogens; activities of toxins; the chemotherapy, biochemistry, and genetics of drug resistance; and epidemiology of infectious diseases. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
219 Medical Virology (4) S. Lecture, four hours. Animal viruses as disease causing agents, including mechanisms of infection at both the cellular and organismic levels. Topics include comparative studies of different groups of viruses, viral transformation, and mechanisms of viral gene expression. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
221 Immunopathogenic Mechanisms of Disease (3) S. The immune system plays a prominent role in disease. Course utilizes lectures and student presentations to teach concepts of autoimmunity and immune system interactions with bacteria, parasites, and in cancer. Prerequisite: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 215.
240 M.D./Ph.D. Tutorial (1) F, W, S. Explores a variety of topics that impact careers of medical scientists (M.D./Ph.D students). Topics range from scientific, such as recent advances in particular research areas, to ethical problems brought on by increased technology and intervention in the disease process. May be repeated for credit.
280A-B-C Tutorial in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2-2-2) F, W, S. Tutorial, two hours. Presented by various members of the faculty; relates current laboratory research to the literature.
Building D, Room 340, Medical Sciences I; (714) 824-5863
Janos K. Lanyi, Department Chair
Faculty
Nancy L. Allbritton: Signal transduction by second messengers and protein kinases
Kenneth M. Baldwin: Activity and hormonal factors regulating striated muscle plasticity
Michael D. Cahalan: Ion channels in the nervous and immune systems
K. George Chandy: Molecular biology and structure of ion channels; novel therapeutic agents
J. Jay Gargus: Molecular analysis of membrane signaling proteins
Alan L. Goldin: Molecular analysis of ion channel function
George A. Gutman: Potassium channel and immunoglobulin super-family genes
Harry T. Haigler: Growth factor signal transduction; annexin calcium-binding proteins
James E. Hall: Biophysics of membrane channels
Janos K. Lanyi: Structure and function in bacterial rhodopsins
Kenneth J. Longmuir: Lipid metabolism; liposomes; membrane fusion
Thomas L. Poulos: Protein engineering and crystallography
Hamid M. Said: Cellular and molecular aspects of intestinal transport of vitamins
Ivan Soltesz: Function and modulation of synaptic GABAA receptors
Bruce J. Tromberg: Optical spectroscopy in cells and tissues
Larry E. Vickery: Metalloproteins; steroid hormone biosynthesis and receptors; molecular chaperones
Stephen H. White: Protein folding in membranes
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, 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 third 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. 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. Students who have met all necessary prerequisites should be able to complete the Ph.D. in five years.
Several faculty in the Department are also members of the graduate program in Protein Engineering, which is described in a previous section.
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.
202 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (3). Function of the nervous system at molecular and cellular levels including the anatomy and physiology of neurons, muscles, and receptors. Prerequisite: consent of department. Same as Anatomy 202A.
203 Review of the Literature of Physiology and Biophysics (2). Students review papers in the current literature and present ideas contained therein to other students and faculty. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 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. Course 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 Psychobiology 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 and Engineering CBE209.
210 Molecular Physiology (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.
220 Physiology of Muscular Activity (3) W. Lecture, one hour; discussion, three hours. Lectures, tutorials, and readings on hormonal, neural, and activity-related factors regulating phenotypic expression in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Topics include organelle components regulating the contractile process; energy metabolism; protein synthesis and degradation; hormones; neural and mechanical factors. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
232 Physiology of Ion Channels (3) F. Lecture, one hour; discussion, three hours. Molecular and biophysical properties of ion channels in excitable and nonexcitable cells. The physiological role of ion channels in a variety of cellular behaviors. Demonstrations in a hands-on workshop format include patch clamp recording, reconstitution of channels into lipid bilayer membranes, and analysis of single channel currents. Intended for advanced students of neurophysiology and the life sciences. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
242 Protein Engineering (3). 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. Same as Biochemical Engineering CBE242.
261 Protein Stability and Structure (3) F. 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.
281 Signal Transduction (3) S. Lecture, one hour; discussion, three hours. Students read and discuss manuscripts that describe mechanisms by which extracellular signals are transduced across plasma membranes and mechanisms by which cellular response machinery (e.g., ion channels, phospholipases, protein kinases, and the mitogenic pathway) is activated. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
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.
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.
