Frédéric Allain: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2015 |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 551-0142-00L | Structure Determination of Biological Macromolecules by X-ray Crystallography and NMR | 6 credits | 3G | F. Allain, N. Ban, K. Locher, G. Wider, K. Wüthrich, further lecturers | |
| Abstract | The course provides an overview of experimental methods for the determination of structures of macromolecules at atomic resolution. | ||||
| Learning objective | Insight into the methodology, areas of application and limitations of two principal methods for the structure determination of biological macromolecules. | ||||
| Content | Part I: Methods for the determination of the structure of proteins and macromolecular complexes using X-ray diffraction in single crystals. Part II: Methods for the determination of protein structures in solution using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Experimental approaches to the characterization of intramolecular dynamics of proteins. | ||||
| Literature | 1) Wüthrich, K. NMR of Proteins and Nucleic Acids, Wiley-Interscience. 2) Blow, D. Outline of Crystallography for Biologists. Oxford University Press. | ||||
| 551-0307-01L | Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism II: Large Cellular Machines | 3 credits | 2V | N. Ban, F. Allain, T. Ishikawa, M. Pilhofer | |
| Abstract | This Concept Course will cover advanced topics in Molecular Biology with particular emphasis on the structure and function of large cellular assemblies. | ||||
| Learning objective | This concept course will further develop general topics introduced in basic biochemistry classes (for example: Fundamentals of Biologie II: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - 551-1323-00L) with emphasis on the architecture and the function of large cellular machines involved in DNA replication, transcription, translation, nucleic acid packaging in viruses, RNA processing, function of large multienzymes, motor proteins and injection assemblies. Specifically the following topics will be covered: 1) Translation, advanced topics, 2) Co-translational protein processing, folding and targeting to the membranes, 3) Virus structure principles, 4) Multienzyme function and architecture, 5) DNA replication, Chromatin structure, remodeling, 6) Injection machines, structure and mechanism, 7) ATP-driven motor proteins, 8) Transcription, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, transcription factors -DNA specific vs non specific recognition, 9) Principles of RNA structures 10) Ribozymes and self-splicing 11) RNA processing machineries Capping, Splicing, 3'end processing and polyadelylation 12) Splicing regulation | ||||
| Content | Advanced class covering the state of the research in structural molecular biology of basic cellular processes with emphasis on the function of large cellular assemblies. | ||||
| Lecture notes | Updated handouts will be provided during the class. | ||||
| Literature | The lecture will be based on the latest literature. Additional suggested literature: Branden, C., and J. Tooze, Introduction to Protein Structure, 2nd ed. (1995). Garland, New York. | ||||
| 551-0434-00L | NMR Spectroscopy in Biology  Number of participants limited to 10 | 6 credits | 7G | F. Allain, G. Wider, K. Wüthrich | |
| Abstract | In this block course, students actively participate in ongoing research projects in the research groups of Profs. Allain, Wider and Wüthrich. The students will be tutored in their experimental work by doctoral or postdoctoral students. In addition, the course includes specific lectures that provide the theoretical background for the experimental work, as well as excercises and literature work. | ||||
| Learning objective | The course provides first "hands on" insight into applications of NMR spectroscopy in biological sciences. The course should enable the students to understand the potential and limitations of NMR applied to biological problems. | ||||
| Content | The topics include studies of proteins, RNA and protein-RNA interactions, Participation in one of the following projects will be possible: - NMR of RNA - NMR of several protein-RNA complexes (hnRNPF, nPTB, SR proteins) - NMR studies of glycoproteins - dynamics of protein-RNA complexes - Segmental isotopic labeling to study multidomain proteins -Structural and dynamic properties of FtsZ, the bacterial homolog of tubulin - investigations of the ubiquitinom - NMR Methods Development | ||||
| Lecture notes | No script | ||||
| Literature | Lists of individual reading assignments will be handed out. | ||||
| 551-1602-00L | Biophysics for Physicists | 9 credits | 18P | G. Wider, F. Allain | |
| Abstract | This laboratory course is for physics students with the elective subject biophysics. The topic of the work is determined individually, and will be in the context with ongoing research projects. Possible topics are NMR studies with proteins and RNAs including structure determinations in solution, development of novel NMR experiments, studies of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. | ||||
| Learning objective | The students participate in an ongoing research project and they will be tutored by PhD students or postdoctoral fellows. The students describe the context and the results of the work in a final report. | ||||
| 551-1620-00L | Molecular Biology, Biophysics | 1 credit | 1K | R. Glockshuber, F. Allain, N. Ban, K. Locher, E. Weber-Ban, G. Wider, K. Wüthrich | |
| Abstract | The course consists of a series of research seminars on Structural Biology and Biophysics, given by both scientists of the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) in Structural Biology and external speakers. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Information on the individual seminars is provided on the following websites: http://www.structuralbiology.unizh.ch/events005.asp http://www.biol.ethz.ch/dbiol-cal/index | ||||