Genome 555 – Protein Technologies

Instructor: Michael J. MacCoss, Ph.D.

Office: Foege S113B

Phone: 206-616-7451

E-Mail: maccoss@u.washington.edu

http://proteome.gs.washington.edu/classes/Genome555/

Class Schedule:

Feb 12, 2008: Introduction, protein basics, protein properties, domains, protein modifications, complexity of the proteome

Feb 14, 2008: Protein separations, 2-dimensional gels, Western blots, Co-immunoprecipitation

Feb 19, 2008: Intro to Mass Spectrometry

Feb 21, 2008: Protein Mass Spectrometry Basics

- Problem set handed out.

Feb 26, 2008: Activity based methods and protein arrays

Feb 28, 2008: Measurement of protein dynamics. Radioactive and stable isotope approaches. Basics of technologies for assessing protein structure.

- Specific Aims for proposal due.

March 4, 2008: Fluorescence based technologies

March 6, 2008: Two-hybrid methods (Stan Fields)

March 11, 2008: Proposal Presentations 1

March 13, 2008: Proposal Presentations 2

Class Grades:

Class Participation: 30%

Problem Set: 30%

Proposal and Presentation: 40%

Problem set will be a collection of peptide spectra that will need to be interpreted. The problem set will be due in class Feb 26th.
Each student will propose a novel technology for characterizing proteins. Any technology that relates to proteins, their structure, and/or their function is acceptable. The technology does not necessarily have to be related to any of the technologies presented during the class. The assignment consists of a one page write-up containing a brief background of the problem and two specific aims in addition to a 15 minute presentation (10 minute presentation and 5 minutes for questions). The first specific aim should describe the proposed technology to be developed and the second aim should describe a biological question that the technology will be applied to.