In order to cope with stress-induced damage, organisms have developed mechanisms that recognize unfolded proteins and activate specialized gene expression programs. These systems are known as “Unfolded Protein Responses (UPR)” and function in different cellular organelles. UPR mechanisms have been characterized in the cytosol (the Heat Shock Response (HSR)), the endoplasmic reticulum (UPRER) and in the mitochondria (UPRmito). In this course we will employ nematodes (C. elegans) that were engineered to report when UPR is activated by expressing the fluorescent protein GFP, to examine under which circumstances each mechanism is activated. Each student pair will conduct two experiments: one which was designed by the teachers and a second experiment that will be designed by the students themselves. To follow and document the results we will use a variety of techniques including Western blot, fluorescent microscopy and gene expression quantification by advanced PCR methods.
- TA: Reut Bruck
- TA: Ehud Cohen