Frédéric Allain: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2022 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Frédéric Allain |
| Field | Biomolecular NMR |
| Address | Institut für Biochemie ETH Zürich, HPP L 14.1 Hönggerbergring 64 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 633 39 40 |
| Fax | +41 44 633 12 94 |
| allain@bc.biol.ethz.ch | |
| Department | Biology |
| Relationship | Full Professor |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 551-0033-00L | Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology  Only for Health Sciences and Technology BSc and Human Medicine BSc. | 5 credits | 5G | J. Corn, F. Allain, K. Köhler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course teaches the basic principles of evolution, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics and developmental biology using the example of humans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective | 1) Students can explain the importance of evolution for the development of humans and diseases. 2) The students know the cell as the smallest unit of the body. They can explain how the functions of the cell are disturbed in certain diseases and where therapies intervene. They can describe the multiplication of cells in the body and show how errors in this multiplication can lead to diseases. 3) The students know DNA as the basis of life. They can explain how the DNA information is stored and how this information can be reproduced and protected from damage. They can describe how the information is read and translated into proteins. They can explain which mechanisms at the level of DNA, RNA and proteins can cause diseases. 4) Students can explain which technologies can be used to diagnose and treat diseases. 5) Students can explain how people differ genetically and know the molecular basis of these differences. They can explain how these differences can lead to diseases and why some of these differences do not affect diseases. 6) The students know the molecular causes of the most common hereditary diseases and can determine the probability of occurrence and transmission to offspring. 7) Students can explain the biochemical and molecular basis of human reproduction and know the basic principles of human embryonic development. The students can explain which mechanisms can be disturbed by a faulty development. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 551-0357-00L | Cellular Matters: From Milestones to Open Questions The number of participants is limited to 22 and will only take place with a minimum of 11 participants. Please sign up until two weeks before the beginning of the semester (for Autumn 2022: by 05.09.2022 end of day) via e-mail to bml@ethz.ch using in the subject: 551-0357-00. In the email body indicate 1) your name, 2) your e-mail address, 3) master/PhD program. The students admitted to this seminar will be informed by e-mail in the week prior to the beginning of the semester. The first lecture will serve to form groups of students and assign papers. | 4 credits | 2S | Y. Barral, F. Allain, P. Arosio, E. Dufresne, D. Hilvert, M. Jagannathan, R. Mezzenga, T. Michaels, G. Neurohr, R. Riek, A. E. Smith, K. Weis, H. Wennemers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | In this course, the students will explore the quite new topic of biomolecular condensates. Concepts and tools from biology, chemistry, biophysics and soft materials will be used, on one hand, to develop an understanding of the biological properties and functions of biomolecular condensates in health and disease, while, on the other, to inspire new materials. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective | In terms of content, you, the student, after a general introduction to the topic, will learn about milestone works and current research questions in the young field of biomolecular condensates (properties, functions and applications) from an interdisciplinary point of view in a course which is a combination of literature (presentations given by pairs of students with different scientific backgrounds) and research seminars (presentations given by the lecturers all active experts in the field, with different backgrounds and expertise). As to the skills, you will have the opportunity to learn how to critically read and evaluate scientific literature, how to give scientific presentations to an interdisciplinary audience (each presentation consisting of an introduction, critical description of the results and discussion of their significance) and substantiate your statements, acquire a critical mindset (pros/cons of chosen approaches/methods and limitations, quality of the data, solidity of the conclusions, possible follow-up experiments) that allows you to ask relevant questions and actively participate to the discussion. With the final presentation you will have the unique opportunity to interact closely with the interdisciplinary group of lecturers (all internationally well-established experts) who will guide you in the choice of a subtopic and related literature. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | In the last decade a new kind of compartments within the cell, the so-called biomolecular condensates, have been observed. This discovery is radically changing our understanding of the cell, its organization and dynamics. The emerging picture is that the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm are highly complex fluids that can (meta)stably segregate into membrane-less sub-compartments, similarly to emulsions. The topic of biomolecular condensates goes beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines and needs a multi-pronged approach that levers on, and cross-fertilizes, biology, physical chemistry, biophysics and soft materials to develop a proper understanding of the properties, functions in health and disease (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.), as well as possible applications of these biomolecular condensates. Each week the lecture will consist of: 1) a short literature seminar: Pairs of students from different scientific backgrounds will be formed and assigned beforehand to present milestone literature to the class and facilitate the ensuing discussion. In the first class the pairs will be formed, the milestone papers made known to the whole class and assigned to the pairs. 2) a research seminar: the presentation of the milestone literature will serve as the introduction to the lecture by one of the lecturers of the course on their own state-of-the-art research in the field. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The presentations will be made available after the lectures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | The milestone papers will be provided in advance. For the final examination, the students will be helped by the lecturers in identifying a research topic and related literature. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fostered competencies |
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| 551-1005-00L | Bioanalytics | 4 credits | 4G | P. Picotti, F. Allain, V. Korkhov, M. Pilhofer, R. Schlapbach, K. Weis, K. Wüthrich, further lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course will introduce students to a selected set of laboratory techniques that are foundational to modern biological research. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective | For each of the techniques covered in the course, the students will be able to explain: a) the physical, chemical and biological principles underlying the technique, b) the requirements for the sample, c) the type of raw data collected by the technique, d) the assumptions and auxiliarry information used in the interpretation of the data and e) how these data can be used to answer a given biological question. By the end of the course the students will be able to select the appropriate experimental technique to answer a given biological problem and will be able to discuss the advantages and limitations of individual techniques as well as how different techniques can be combined to gain a more complete understanding of a given biological questions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course will be based on a combination of lectures, selfstudy elements and exercises. The focus will be on the following experimental techniques: - DNA sequencing - chromatography - mass-spectrometry - UV/Vis and fluorescence spectrometry - light microscopy - electron microscopy - X-ray crystallography - NMR spectroscopy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The course is supported by a Moodle page that gives access to all supporting materials necessary for the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fostered competencies |
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| 551-1309-00L | RNA-Biology Number of participants limited to 17. The enrolment is done by the D-BIOL study administration. | 6 credits | 7P | F. Allain, J. Corn, J. Hall, M. Jinek, S. Jonas, B. Mateescu, R. Santoro, O. Voinnet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to the diversity of current RNA-research at all levels from structural biology to systems biology using mainly model systems like S. cerevisiae (yeast), mammalian cells. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objective | The students will obtain an overview about the diversity of current RNA-research. They will learn to design experiments and use techniques necessary to analyze different aspects of RNA biology. Through lectures and literature seminars, they will learn about the burning questions of RNA research and discuss approaches to address these questions experimentally. In practical lab projects the students will work in one of the participating laboratories. Finally, they will learn how to present and discuss their data in an appropriate manner. Student assessment is a graded semester performance based on individual performance in the laboratory, the written exam and the poster presentation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Documentation and recommended literature will be provided at the beginning and during the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course will be taught in English. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||