Short Course Description
Resolving perturbations to cellular homeostasis requires integrative responses that involve multiple molecular mechanisms. Success or lack of success in regulating homeostasis can be a central determinant distinguishing between health and disease. Indeed, cellular stress responses span the entire spectrum of cellular activities, from maintenance/alteration of chromosomal copy numbers to synthesis/turnover of all types of biological macromolecules (e.g., proteins). As such, the mechanisms involved in stress induction and/or its resolution are the subject of intense study and serve as targets for novel therapeutics. In this course, we will study the molecular mechanisms involved in stress responses with an emphasis on different sources of cellular stress, including toxic drugs, oxidative stress, genetic diseases, protein misfolding and viral infection. In addition, we will expand on the experimental techniques involved in the study of cellular stress, and the model systems in which these phenomena are currently studied.
Full Syllabus