Professor David Waxman
Dept. of Biology, BSC 300
Tel: 617-353-7402/email: djw@bu.edu
Office hours: Tues. and Thurs. 12-1:30 p.m.
BI556 - Membrane Biochemistry and Cell Signaling – Course Syllabus, Fall 2008
Class and Discussion Meeting times (BRB122)
Tues. 2 - 4:30 P.M. and Thurs. 2 - 4:30 P.M.
Tues. Sept. 2
Thurs. Sept. 4
Introduction to Biomembranes (Unit A)
Membrane Lipid Biochemistry (Unit B)
Tues. Sept. 9
Thurs. Sept. 11
Membrane Lipid Biochemistry (Unit B)
Membrane Protein Structure (Unit C)
Tues. Sept. 16
Thurs. Sept. 18
Membrane Protein Structure (Unit C)
Detergents and Membrane Protein Purification (Unit D)
Tues. Sept. 23
Thurs. Sept. 25
Critical Readings #1
Protein Prenylation and Fatty Acylation (Unit E)
Tues. Sept. 30
Thurs. Oct. 2
(NO CLASS)*
Protein Prenylation and Fatty Acylation (Unit E)
Tues. Oct. 7
Thurs. Oct. 9
Membrane Protein Biosynthesis: the ER (Unit F) - Double Lecture
(NO CLASS)*
Tues. Oct. 14
Thurs. Oct. 16
(NO CLASS – Monday Schedule)
Membrane Protein Biosynthesis: the ER (Unit F) - Double Lecture
Tues. Oct. 21
Thurs. Oct. 23
EXAM (Lecture Units A-F)
Critical Readings #2
Tues. Oct. 28
Thurs. Oct. 30
Organelle Biogenesis (Unit G)
Organelle Biogenesis (Unit G)
Tues. Nov. 4
Thurs. Nov. 6
Intracellular Vesicle Transport (Unit H) - Double Lecture
Cholesterol Biosynthesis (Unit I)
Tues. Nov. 11
Thurs. Nov. 13
NO CLASS (Veteran’s Day Holiday)
Critical Readings #3
Tues. Nov. 18
Thurs. Nov. 20
LDL Receptor Pathway (Unit J)
LDL Receptor Pathway (Unit J)
Tues. Nov. 25
Thurs. Nov. 27
Hormones and Receptors (Unit K)
NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Recess)
Tues. Dec. 2
Thurs. Dec. 4
Cell Signaling: G-proteins and cAMP (Unit L)
Tyrosine Kinase Signaling (Unit M)
Tues. Dec. 9
Thurs. Dec. 11
Critical Readings #4
Cell Signaling: Specialized Topics (Unit N)
Dec. 12 - Dec. 20
Dec. 19 (Friday)
Study Period and Final Exam Period
Final Exam, 9-11 AM (per University schedule)
*Make-up class time on four Critical Readings date, on date of exam, and on
select other dates (“Double-Lecture”), up to 0.5 hr each.
BI556: Membrane Biochemistry – Course Overview
This is a graduate-level/advanced undergraduate-level course for students with
basic background in undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology. It is
designed to help students develop a more in-depth understanding of
experimental approaches that synthesize biochemistry and cell biology in their
application to the structure and function of biological membranes and their role
in cellular processes.
The two major goals of the course are: 1) to develop a clear understanding of
major concepts in membrane biology, with an emphasis on the experimental
studies that led to the establishment of these concepts; and 2) to learn how to
read primary research papers in membrane biology and cell signaling in a critical
manner. This latter goal is accomplished by way of four Critical Readings
sessions spread through the term. Many students find that the skills that they
acquire in this course are very helpful in preparation for graduate qualifying
exams, as well as in their longer-term pursuit of research-based careers in
Biology and related disciplines.
Specific topics to be covered, organized into individual Units A-N, are detailed
on the attached class schedule. The course has minimal overlap with BI735,
Advanced Cell Biology. Relevant readings from the textbooks and copies of
Figures relevant to each Unit will be provided in the form of a hard copy
handout at the beginning of each Unit. Attendance is expected at all meetings of
the course.
Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to read, understand and
abide by the University’s CAS Academic Code, copies of which are available in
CAS 105. Students are also reminded that the last day to drop classes (without a
“W” grade) is 5 weeks from the start of the semester, and the last day to withdraw
from class (with a “W” grade) is 8 weeks from the start of the semester.
Textbook for Supporting Reading Materials (available at B.U. Bookstore)
Molecular Cell Biology, 6th Edition, H Lodish et al, 2008, WH Freeman and Co.
ISBN 13-978-0-7167-7601-7.
Reading assignments will be marked on the handout distributed for each lecture Unit.
Additional Book on Reserve at Science Library:
Membrane Structural Biology, M. Luckey, 2008, Cambridge
University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-85655-3.
BI556: Course Requirements
• Required Prerequisites: BI/CH421 (Biochem I) and BI552 (Mol Biol I).
• Required Corequisite: BI/CH 422 (Biochem II).
Anyone who has registered in BI556 but does not meet these requirements
should see Dr. Waxman immediately after the first class to discuss their
eligibility to continue in the course.
• Attendance is mandatory for both lectures and Critical Readings sessions and
is factored into your final grade.
• Critical Readings (CR) – Typically, we will discuss in detail two papers chosen
from the recent primary literature assigned for each CR session. In some
cases a “design your own experiments” guided problem set will be included.
Copies of papers will be provided to you approx. one week prior to each CR
session. Students are expected to come to each CR sessions with a 0.75-1 page
typed summary of the major goals and findings of each paper, including a
critique of the study and a listing of select points for general discussion.
Students may freely discuss the CR papers with each other, or with any other
individuals, but must prepare their written CR reports independently.
Accordingly, students may not show their written CR reports to other
individuals (including other students in the class) before turning them in for
grading.
Grades on a scale of 1-8 will be assigned for each CR paper based on the
written critique and your active participation in class discussion of the paper.
CR assignments handed in late will receive a two-grade penalty (i.e., a 6
becomes a 4). Students sometimes find there is a ‘learning curve’ in terms of
CR assignments; accordingly, any low CR grades from the first CR session
will be given reduced weight in computing the overall CR component of your
grade. Grade ranges for CR papers: 1-3 = poor (C/D), 4-6 = average (B range), 7-8
= excellent (A range).
Exams and Grading
• Class participation and attendance (15%) and Critical Readings session grades
(30%) count a total of 45% toward final grade.
• Two exams count a total of 55% toward final grade:
-First exam (25%) (Tues., Oct. 21) will cover material in Lecture Units A-F.
-Final exam (30%) (week of Dec. 12-20) will be comprehensive, but will
place primary emphasis on material in Lecture Units G-N. Final exam
may also include short essays or research problems based on
knowledge and skills gained from Critical Readings.