Properties of the calcium signal in different cell types. Role of transient receptor potential channels in calcium regulation in context with diseases and cancer 2012
Type of class Lecture
Offered by Medical Neurosciences
Instructor Dr. Stefan Mergler
Schedule Tuesday 5 pm c.t. weekly (preliminary discussion will start on 10th of January 2012).
Location Library in the main building of the Campus Virchow Clinic, Mittelallee 11, 1st floor (Gastroenterology).
Contact Dr. Stefan Mergler ()
Target audience All fellows/students interested in Ca2+ signaling and TRP channel research (MSc/PhD).
ECTS points 1.5
Learning Outcome
Calcium is the most universal carrier of biological signals. It modulates cell life from its origin at fertilization to its end in the apoptotic process. Cells need Ca2+ to correctly carry out most of their important functions. At this point, Ca2+ permeable transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) play a crucial role in cell signalling. They also play a role in certain diseases and cancer.
The participants of the course will accumulate knowledge about these specific topics. Videos will be shown. More specifically, students will learn the function of Ca2+ binding proteins, Ca2+ homeostasis, regulation of intracellular Ca2+ compartmentalization, Ca2+ channels and pumps, identification and function of TRPs (e.g. Ca2+ signal and hormone secretion in context with TRPs). Furthermore, students will be able to understand some relevant contributions of the TRPs and their typical characteristics. Moreover, the students will understand how certain TRPs will be identified and the relevance of the corresponding methods in electrophysiology (esp. calcium imaging, patch-clamp technique). Finally, the students will learn how to transfer this knowledge to topics in medical neurosciences.
Structure
The lecture may be assigned to the following weekly subunits
(e.g. always 40 min presentation and 10 min active discussion of the students):
- History and evolution of calcium biochemistry
- Ca2+ homeostasis, channels and pumps
- TRP channels and methods for their electrophysiological detection
- Ca2+ functions and TRPs (e.g. hormone secretion)
- TRPs in diseases and cancer
Assignments/Exam
Short and long essay questions about the content of the lecture can be prepared for grading if applicable.
Readings
Mandatory
Corresponding textbooks about calcium signaling (e.g. see James W. Putney)
Papers (some suggestions):
- S. Ramsey, M. Delling, and D. E. Clapham. An introduction to TRP channels. Annu.Rev.Physiol 68:619–647, 2006.
- B. Nilius, G. Owsianik, T. Voets, and J. A. Peters. Transient receptor potential cation channels in disease. Physiol Rev. 87 (1):165–217, 2007.
- B. Nilius and G. Owsianik. Transient receptor potential channelopathies. Pflugers Arch 460 (2):437–450, 2010.
- C. Montell. The TRP superfamily of cation channels. Sci STKE 2005 (272):re3, 2005.
- B. Nilius and G. Owsianik. Channelopathies converge on TRPV4. Nat.Genet. 42 (2):98–100, 2010.
- M. Bodding. TRP proteins and cancer. Cell Signal. 19 (3):617–624, 2007.
Further
Book (suggestion):
- Calcium : A Matter of Life or Death (New Comprehensive Biochemistry, Vol 41)