Courses Offered

Physiology & Biophysics Curriculum and Learning Outcomes

Biophysics:

GMS BY 762 Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology I:

This graduate level course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and major experimental methods of Biophysics and Structural Biology. The course covers x-ray diffraction, crystallography, electron microscopy and image processing. Mondays, 1-3pm.
David Atkinson, Ph.D.

GMS BY 763 Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology II:

This graduate level course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and major experimental methods of Biophysics and Structural Biology. The course covers thermodynamic and spectroscopic methods, computational biology and structural NMR.  Mondays, 1-3pm.
David Atkinson, Ph.D.

GMS BY 776 Macromolecular Assemblies I:

This graduate level course covers the concepts of the assembly of biomacromolecules, their structure and stabilizing forces, and biological function as related to structure. Examples are drawn from protein and protein-nucleic acid assemblies, and membrane proteins. Wednesdays, 1-3pm.
G. Graham Shipley, Ph.D.

GMS BY 777 Macromolecular Assemblies II:

This graduate level course covers the concepts of the assembly of biomacromolecules, their structure and stabilizing forces, and biological function as related to structure. Examples are drawn from assemblies of lipoproteins, phospholipids, and membrane proteins.  Wednesdays, 1-3pm.
G. Graham Shipley, Ph.D.

GMS BY 871, 872 Biophysics Seminar:

This is a special topics seminar series for first and second year graduate students. Each student presents several papers per semester describing the background, the specific methods, the results, the conclusions of the authors, and a critique of the work.
See Faculty Listing

GMS BY 945, 946 Research in The Program of Biophysics:

Research is undertaken in the laboratories of individual Faculty members of The Department of Biophysics.
See Faculty Listing

GMS BY 772 NMR Spectroscopy in Biology and Biochemistry:

This graduate level course provides an introduction to the basic theory and the fundamental measurements of NMR spectroscopy using the predominant biological nuclei, 1H, 2H, 13C and 31P, and applications to structure and metabolism; NMR studies of pathological processes and NMR imaging.
James A. Hamilton, Ph.D.

GMS BY 774 Metabolism and Cellular Functions of Complex Lipids:

This course provides an in-depth description of selected areas of lipid metabolism. An emphasis is given to functional roles of specific lipid species in cellular process (e.g. cell activation, protein transport and function). The course uses timely articles to discuss newly developed techniques and concepts.
R. Andrew Zoeller, Ph.D.

Physiology:

GMS PH 730 Human Physiology A

Prereq: consent of instructor. Cellular and organ physiology. Lectures, laboratories, and discussions examine function and regulation of organ systems. Integrative aspects of human physiology include topics in environmental physiology. Garcia-Diaz. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GMS PH 731 Human Physiology B

Prereq: consent of instructor. See GMS PH 730 Human Physiology A, Garcia-Diaz. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS PH 741 Experimental Methods in Physiology A

Prereq: MED ME 751 and consent of instructor. Current research methods in cellular and molecular physiology, as applied to the study of macromolecular function, motility, ligand binding phenomena, and membrane function. Develops problem-solving skills and awareness of current approaches to research problems. Garcia-Diaz, staff. 2 cr, 1st sem.

GMS PH 742 Experimental Methods in Physiology B

Prereq: consent of instructor. A practical approach to electrophysiology techniques. Garcia-Diaz, staff. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS PH 745, 746 Special Topics in Physiology

Prereq: consent of instructor. Current and classical papers in a given area of physiology are assigned for reading and later discussion with students. Topics include mechanics of muscle, cell motility, membrane transport, sensory physiology, and instrumentation in physiological research. Variable cr, 1st & 2nd sem.

GMS PH 841, 842 Physiology Seminar

Students present seminars on their research and/or review literature related to their research. Students attend the seminars presented by staff and other students. Levy, staff. 2 cr each, 1st & 2nd sem.

GMS PH 843, 844 Cellular Physiology I and II

Prereq: consent of instructor. Lectures and discussion on: (1) membrane transport, thermodynamic and kinetic analysis; (2) electrophysiology of cell membranes, excitable membrane properties, electrical coupling, synaptic transmission; and (3) cell motility, molecular mechanism, and regulation of contraction of muscle and other cells; mechanisms of transduction of photoreceptors. Garcia-Diaz, staff. 4 cr, 1st & 2nd sem.

GMS PH 941, 942 Research Physiology Variable cr.

 

Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology I

(GMS BY 762)

Course Director: David Atkinson, Ph.D.

Description:

This graduate level course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and major experimental methods of biophysics and structural biology. It covers x-ray diffraction, crystallography, electron microscopy and image processing.

Topics include:

  • Macromolecular conformation and the principles of symmetry
  • Fourier transforms
  • Structural electron microscopy and image processing
  • X-ray diffraction, scattering and crystallography

A full course description and schedule is available

 

Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology II

(GMS BY 763)

Course Director: David Atkinson, Ph.D.

Description:

This graduate level course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and major experimental methods of biophysics and structural biology. It covers thermodynamic and spectroscopic methods, computational biology and structural NMR..

Topics include:

  • Macromolecular conformation and the principles of symmetry
  • Thermodynamic methods
  • Spectroscopic methods
  • Structural nuclear magnetic resonance
  • Computational biology

A full course description and schedule is available

 

Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies I

(GMS BY 776)

Course Director: G. Graham Shipley, Ph.D.

Description:

This graduate level course covers the concepts of the assembly of biomacromolecules, their structure and stabilizing forces, and biological function as related to structure. Examples are drawn from protein and protein-nucleic acid assemblies, and membrane proteins.

Topics include:

  • Protein Folding Motifs and Quaternary Assembly
  • Protein Assemblies: Hemoglobin,Clathrin, Spectrin, Actin, Myosin and Tubulin
  • Protein-Nucleic Acid Assemblies: Chromatin, Ribosomes, Rod-shaped and Spherical Viruses Viruses

A full course description is available (pdf format)

Illustrations for lectures are available here

 

Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies II

(GMS BY 777)

Course Director: G. Graham Shipley, Ph.D.

Description:

This graduate level course covers the concepts of the assembly of biomacromolecules, their structure and stabilizing forces, and biological function as related to structure. Examples are drawn from assemblies of lipoproteins, phospholipids, and membrane proteins.

Topics include:

  • Lipid Assemblies: Thermodynamics, Surface behavior, Structure,Mesomorphic states and liquid crystals
  • Plasma Lipoproteins: Lipid, Lipid phase behavior, Apoproteins, Assembly, Interconversions, and Uptake
  • Biological Membranes: Organization, Bacteriorhodopsin, Photosynthetic Reaction Center, Porins, Bacterial Toxins, Influenza Virus Hemaggutinin, and Potassium Channel

A full course description is available (pdf format)

Illustrations for lectures are available here

 

Special Topics Seminar Course: BY871, BY872 and PH841, PH842

All Students learn how to:

  • Read and critically analyze papers ,
  • Present orally/visually the essential points of the paper,
  • Ask questions and answer them,
  • Learn the basics of scientific writing (papers and grants).

A full course description is available (pdf format)

 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Biology and Biochemistry

Course Director: James A. Hamilton, Ph.D.

2 Credit Hours
Thursday, 1:30-3:13

Course Description:

This graduate level course will build on the basic principles of NMR to give an introduction to modern NMR and magnetic imaging methods applied to biological systems.

Topics will include:

  • Basic physical principles
  • Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy and instrumentation, with lab demonstration
  • Multinuclear NMR
  • The biologically interesting nuclei
  • Comparison of high resolution NMR of 1H, 2H, 12C and 31P application to lipids, membranes and proteins
  • Metabolism and pathology studies by NMR
  • Solid state and magic angle spinning NMR of membranes and lipid crystals
  • 2-D NMR of peptides
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in medicine

Consent of Instructor required.

Dr. James A. Hamilton
Department of Physiology & Biophysics – W302A
Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
715 Albany Street
Boston, MA 02118-2394
617-358-8475
email: jhamilt@bu.edu

 

Metabolism and Cellular Functions of Complex Lipids

Instructor: R. Andrew Zoeller Ph.D.

Description:

This course provides an in-depth desription of selected areas of lipid meabolism. An empahasis is given to functional roles of specific lipid species in cellular process (e.g. cell activation, protein transport and function). The course uses timely articles to discuss newly developed techniques and concepts.

Topics include:

  • Phospholipid Biosynthesis: Pathways and Regulation
  • Isolation and use of Somatic Cell Mutants
  • Lipid Transport
  • Covalent Modification of Proteins by Lipids
  • Gram-Negative Endotoxin: Receptors, Signaling & Pathology
  • Cholesterol & Lipoproteins