BIO 390-01 - Readings in Biology

2 credits (Fall)

The Ubiquitin System: Protein Degradation and Beyond. The abundance of most proteins in the cell is tightly regulated by the rate of protein synthesis (translation) and the rate of protein degradation. In eukaryotic cells, proteins that are damaged, misfolded, aggregated, or unwanted are degraded by two distinct pathways, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP). The small polypeptide ubiquitin plays a central role in controlling both of these degradative pathways. In this course, we will learn about the enzymes that are responsible for the ubiquitin conjugation and deconjugation reactions, and we will explore the different mechanisms through which ubiquitin controls the protein degradation process. We will also examine non-degradative functions of ubiquitin, and we will link defects in ubiquitin-dependent pathways to human health and disease. A combination of classical and current research papers from the primary literature will be used to introduce established principles and explore current challenges within the field.

Prerequisite: BIO 252.
Instructor: M. French