Biology 154 / 254 / Neurobiology 254

Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology

Autumn 2010

Bio154/254/Neurobio254 is a combined upper-level undergraduate and graduate course. The course focuses on cellular and molecular studies of the organization and function of the nervous system. The lecture content is described in detail below. Lecture hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:15-3:05 pm, in Hewlett 201.

Undergraduate/masters level (154) students will have an additional 50min-long section every week. On weeks 3,5,7 and 9 primary research papers will be discussed. You are required to attend the paper discussions. Other sections are optional.

Graduate level (254) students will have an additional two-hour discussion section every Friday starting Oct. 1, 1:15-3:05 pm, at Gilbert 117; three research papers will be discussed every week. The course website containing lecture PDFs, discussion papers and other course materials can be found at https://coursework.stanford.edu.

PhD students must register for 254 (up to 5 units); master and undergraduate students should register for 154 (4 units).

For Bio154 students:

You will have a weekly section with TAs starting from week 2. In weeks 3, 5, 7 and 9, one research paper each is to be discussed in depth. These discussions contribute towards 20% of the grade. 40% of the grade will be from a term paper due on Friday noon Nov. 19. The rest 40% will be from a final exam on Dec 10^th .

For Bio254 students:

Each week three primary research papers (PDFs posted on the coursework website) need to be read in advance and are discussed in depth. Discussion sections count towards 50% of the grade. Another 50% comes from a “grant proposal” due by noon on Dec 10^th.

By the end of the lecture day, the entire presentation will be available in PDF to all registered students on the CourseWork website.

Reference books (reserved at Falconer Library):

Kandel et al. Principles of Neural Science (2000)

Squire et al., Fundamental Neuroscience (2008)

No books could replace the lectures per se.

Therefore lecture attendance is essential!

Lecture Schedule:

1. Mon Sept 20 Overview of nervous system organization Luo

2. Wed Sept 22 Action potential Shen

3. Mon Sept 27 Synaptic transmission Shen

4. Wed Sept 29 Synapse development Shen

Fri Oct 1 Discussion: Synapse Luo/Shen

5. Mon Oct 4 Signal transduction Clandinin

6. Wed Oct 6 Vision 1 Clandinin

Fri Oct 8 Discussion: Transduction Clandinin/Luo

7. Mon Oct 11 Vision 2 Clandinin

8. Wed Oct 13 Vision 3 Clandinin

Fri Oct 15 Discussion: Vision Clandinin/Luo

9. Mon Oct 18 Olfaction 1 Luo

10. Wed Oct 20 Olfaction 2 Luo

. Fri Oct 22 Discussion: Olfaction Clandinin/Luo

11. Mon Oct 25 Circadian rhythm and sleep Luo

12. Wed Oct 27 Sexual behavior Luo

Fri Oct 29 Discussion: Time/Love Luo/Shen

13. Mon Nov 1 Learning and memory 1 Shen

14. Wed Nov 3 Learning and memory 2 Shen

Fri Nov 5 Discussion: Learning/Memory Clandinin/Shen

15. Mon Nov 8 Neurological diseases Shen

16. Wed Nov 10 Evolution of the nervous system Clandinin

Fri Nov 12 No grad discussion: SfN meeting

Mon Nov 15 No class: SfN meeting

17. Wed Nov 17 Future of neuroscience: guided discussion Clandinin/Luo/Shen

Fri Nov 19 Discussion: Disease/Evolution Clandinin/Shen

Papers for graduate discussions:

Oct 1 (synapse):

Synaptotagmin-1 functions as a Ca2+ sensor for spontaneous release.

Xu J, Pang ZP, Shin OH, Südhof TC.

Nat Neurosci. 2009 Jun;12(6):759-66.

Cbln1 is a ligand for an orphan glutamate receptor delta2, a bidirectional synapse organizer.

Matsuda K, Miura E, Miyazaki T, Kakegawa W, Emi K, Narumi S, Fukazawa Y, Ito-Ishida A, Kondo T, Shigemoto R, Watanabe M, Yuzaki M.

Science. 2010 Apr 16;328(5976):363-8.

An unbiased expression screen for synaptogenic proteins identifies the LRRTM protein family as synaptic organizers.

Linhoff MW, Laurén J, Cassidy RM, Dobie FA, Takahashi H, Nygaard HB, Airaksinen MS, Strittmatter SM, Craig AM.

Neuron. 2009 Mar 12;61(5):734-49.

Oct. 8 (transduction):

C. elegans TRP family protein TRP-4 is a pore-forming subunit of a native mechanotransduction channel.

Kang L, Gao J, Schafer WR, Xie Z, Xu XZ.

Neuron. 2010 Aug 12;67(3):381-91.

Sensory neuron-specific GPCR Mrgprs are itch receptors mediating chloroquine-induced pruritus.

Liu Q, Tang Z, Surdenikova L, Kim S, Patel KN, Kim A, Ru F, Guan Y, Weng HJ, Geng Y, Undem BJ, Kollarik M, Chen ZF, Anderson DJ, Dong X.

Cell. 2009 Dec 24;139(7):1353-65. Epub 2009 Dec 10.

Widespread transcription at neuronal activity-regulated enhancers.

Kim TK, Hemberg M, Gray JM, Costa AM, Bear DM, Wu J, Harmin DA, Laptewicz M, Barbara-Haley K, Kuersten S, Markenscoff-Papadimitriou E, Kuhl D, Bito H, Worley PF, Kreiman G, Greenberg ME.

Nature. 2010 May 13;465(7295):182-7. Epub 2010 Apr 14

Oct. 15 (vision):

Retinal input instructs alignment of visual topographic maps.

Triplett JW, Owens MT, Yamada J, Lemke G, Cang J, Stryker MP, Feldheim DA.

Cell. 2009 Oct 2;139(1):175-85.

Modulation of visual responses by behavioral state in mouse visual cortex.

Niell CM, Stryker MP.

Neuron. 2010 Feb 25;65(4):472-9.

Melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion-cell photoreceptors: cellular diversity and role in pattern vision.

Ecker JL, Dumitrescu ON, Wong KY, Alam NM, Chen SK, LeGates T, Renna JM, Prusky GT, Berson DM, Hattar S.

Neuron. 2010 Jul 15;67(1):49-60.

Oct. 22 (olfaction):