Nenad Ban: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2022

Name	Prof. Dr. Nenad Ban
Field	Molekulare Strukturbiologie
Address	Inst. f. Molekularbiol.u.Biophysik ETH Zürich, HPK H 3 Otto-Stern-Weg 5 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND
Telephone	+41 44 633 27 85
Fax	+41 44 633 12 46
E-mail	ban@mol.biol.ethz.ch
Department	Biology
Relationship	Full Professor

Number	Title	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
551-0125-00L	Fundamentals of Biology I: From Molecules to the Biochemistry of Cells	6 credits	5G	J. Vorholt-Zambelli, N. Ban, R. Glockshuber, K. Locher, J. Piel
Abstract	The lecture provides an introduction to the basics of biochemistry and molecular biology as well as evolutionary principles. The focus is on bacteria and archaea under consideration of universal concepts.
Learning objective	Introduction to biochemistry, molecular biology and evolutionary principles
Content	The lecture introduces biology as an interdisciplinary science. Links to physics and chemistry will manifest as biological processes that operate within the laws of thermodynamics and are rooted in elements, molecules and chemical reactions. The transition from geochemistry to biochemistry is discussed and considered in relation to the origin of life. Evolutionary principles are introduced and resulting processes are used as a guiding principle. Unifying concepts in biology are presented, including the structure and function of cellular macromolecules and the ways in which hereditary information is encoded, decoded and replicated. Central principles of universal energy conversion are looked at, starting from redox processes and focusing on bacteria and archaea. Finally, biological processes are put into an ecosystems perspective. The lecture is divided into different sections: 1. Geochemical perspectives on Earth and introduction to evolution 2. Building blocks of life 3. Macromolecules: Proteins 4. Membranes and transport across the plasma membrane 5. Universal mechanisms of inheritance, transcription and translation 6. Reaction Kinetics, binding equilibria and enzymatic catalysis 7. Essentials of Catabolism 8. Essentials of Anabolism 9. Metabolism and biogeochemical cycling of elements
Lecture notes	The newly conceived lecture is supported by scripts.
Literature	The lecture is supported by scripts. The lecture contains elements of "Brock Biology of Microorganisms", Madigan et al. 15th edition, Pearson und "Biochemistry" (Stryer), Berg et al. 9th edition, Macmillan international.
551-1407-00L	RNA Biology Lecture Series I: Transcription & Processing & Translation	4 credits	2V	F. Allain, N. Ban, S. Jonas, U. Kutay, further lecturers
Abstract	This course covers aspects of RNA biology related to gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. These include RNA transcription, processing, alternative splicing, editing, export and translation.
Learning objective	The students should obtain an understanding of these processes, which are at work during gene expression.
Content	Transcription & 3'end formation ; splicing, alternative splicing, RNA editing; the ribosome & translation, translation regulation, RNP biogenesis & nuclear export, mRNA surveillance & mRNA turnover; signal transduction & RNA.
Prerequisites / Notice	Basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology.
551-1619-00L	Structural Biology Does not take place this semester.	1 credit	1K	R. Glockshuber, F. Allain, N. Ban, K. Locher, M. Pilhofer, E. Weber-Ban, K. Wüthrich
Abstract	The course consists of a series of research seminars on Structural Biology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, given by both scientists of the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) in Structural Biology and external speakers. Information on the individual seminars is provided on the following websites: http://www.structuralbiology.uzh.ch/educ002.asp http://www.biol.ethz.ch/dbiol-cal/index
Learning objective	The goal of this course is to provide doctoral and postdoctoral students with a broad overview on the most recent developments in biochemistry, structural biology and biophysics.