Prerequisite: BICH 221, Bisc 331 recommended.

Course Description: Signal transduction, the conversion of an extracellular signal into a cellular response, is presently one of the most intensively studied aspects of biology. Signaling pathways control a wide range of cellular processes and the characterization of these pathways is having a major impact on cell biology, developmental biology and medicine. In this course, we shall be examining the current literature in this rapidly developing field. We will look at how a combination of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics is being used to investigate the diverse mechanisms used in cell signaling, and examine how the various approaches to studying signal transduction complement each other. Classes will be in the form of lectures and student presentations.

Lecture Topics:

1. Introduction: mechanisms of signal transduction, approaches available for studying signal transduction
2. Signal transduction by the small GTPase Ras
3. The trimeric G proteins and associated signaling pathways
4. Regulation of cellular events by the Rho subfamily of Ras-related small GTPases
5. Control of signal transduction by protein phosphatases
6. Pathways leading to programmed cell death (apoptosis)
7. Signaling by a protease cascade
8. Nitric oxide signaling
9. Other topics as time permits

Evaluation: Grading will be based on two assignments. In the first (worth 30%), students will do an oral presentation on a recent signal transduction paper of their choice, summarizing the results of the study and critically analyzing its contribution to the field. In the second, written assignment (worth 70%), students will prepare a "News and Views" article on recent developments in the area of their choice, by examining at least three papers.