Kaspar Locher: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Name	Prof. Dr. Kaspar Locher
Field	Molecular Membrane Biology
Address	Inst. f. Molekularbiol.u.Biophysik ETH Zürich, HPK G 11 Otto-Stern-Weg 5 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND
Telephone	+41 44 633 39 91
E-mail	locher@mol.biol.ethz.ch
URL	http://www.locherlab.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	N. Ban, R. Glockshuber, K. Locher, J. Piel, J. Vorholt-Zambelli
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.
551-0307-00L	Molecular and Structural Biology I: Protein Structure and Function D-BIOL students are obliged to take part I and part II (next semester) as a two-semester course	3 credits	2V	R. Glockshuber, K. Locher, E. Weber-Ban
Abstract	Biophysics of protein folding, membrane proteins and biophysics of membranes, enzymatic catalysis, catalytic RNA and RNAi, current topics in protein biophysics and structural biology.
Learning objective	Understanding of structure-function relationships in proteins and in protein folding, detailed understanding of biophysics and physical methods as well as modern methods for protein purification and microanalytics.
Lecture notes	Scripts on the individual topics can be found under http://www.mol.biol.ethz.ch/teaching.
Literature	Basics: - Creighton, T.E., Proteins, Freeman, (1993) - Fersht, A., Enzyme, Structure and Mechanism in Protein Science (1999), Freeman. - Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer: Biochemistry (5th edition), Freeman (2001). Current topics: References will be given during the lectures. .
551-1323-AAL	Fundamentals of Biology II: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.	4 credits	11R	K. Locher, N. Ban, R. Glockshuber, E. Weber-Ban
Abstract	The course provides an introduction to Biochemistry / Molecular Biology with some emphasis on chemical and biophysical aspects.
Learning objective	Topics include the structure-function relationship of proteins / nucleic acids, protein folding, enzymatic catalysis, cellular pathways involved in bioenergetics and the biosynthesis and breakdown of amino acids, glycans, nucleotides, fatty acids and phospholipids, and steroids. There will also be a discussion of DNA replication and repair, transcription, and translation.
Lecture notes	none
Literature	"Biochemistry", Berg/Tymoczko/Stryer, 8th edition, Palgrave Macmillan, International edition
551-1323-00L	Fundamentals of Biology II: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	4 credits	4G	K. Locher, N. Ban, R. Glockshuber, E. Weber-Ban
Abstract	The course provides an introduction to Biochemistry / Molecular Biology with some emphasis on chemical and biophysical aspects.
Learning objective	Topics include the structure-function relationship of proteins / nucleic acids, protein folding, enzymatic catalysis, cellular pathways involved in bioenergetics and the biosynthesis and breakdown of amino acids, glycans, nucleotides, fatty acids and phospholipids, and steroids. There will also be a discussion of DNA replication and repair, transcription, and translation.
Lecture notes	none
Literature	mandatory: "Biochemistry", Autoren: Berg/Tymoczko/Stryer, Palgrave Macmillan, International edition (the English version will be preordered at the Polybuchhandlung)
Prerequisites / Notice	Some of the lectures are given in the English language.
551-1619-00L	Structural Biology	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.