PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES OF MECHANO-ENZYMES (BMB 622)

Spring 2006

Course Directors:
E. Michael Ostap, ostap@mail.med.upenn.edu, 215-573-9758
Yale E. Goldman, goldmany@mail.med.upenn.edu, 215-898-4017

Time and Location: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Description:  This course will provide an introduction to the biochemical, structural, and mechanical properties of energy-transducing enzymes. We will emphasize the relationships of mechanical, thermal, and chemical forces in mechano-enzyme function. Introductory lectures will be given by the faculty, and students and faculty will present papers from current scientific literature.  The format of the course is designed to foster active discussion of the subject with an emphasis on the critical evaluation of the literature.  Participants will write and submit, on the day of each presentation, five questions on each of the selected literature papers. Grading will take account personal presentations, participation during other students’ presentations, homework and written questions. Attendance is expected at all sessions; please inform faculty of necessary absences beforehand.

Course Materials:  “Mechanics of Motor Proteins and the Cytoskeleton,” by Jonathon Howard is the required text book.

TOPICS:

Basic Physical Principles

1. Mechanical Forces in Biophysics and Cell Biology           
2. Mass, Stiffness and Damping of Proteins
3. Thermal Forces and Diffusion
4. Chemical Forces

Cytoskeleton

1. Polymer Mechanics
2. Actin
3. Microtubules                                                  

Cytoskeletal Motor Proteins

1. Myosin
2. Kinesin
3. Dynein

Non-Classical Mechano-Enzymes

1. ATP synthase
2. Ribosome
3. RNA Polymerase
4. Bacterial Flagella
5. Viral portal motors