Nanomachines of Cell Death

Correctly orchestrated cell death is essential for organismal life. In this course we will examine the cellular nanomachines that execute cell death processes in mammals through the lens of structural biology and evolution. The course will introduce classical and state-of-the-art structural biology methods including X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryogenic electron microscopy. We will apply an evolutionary analysis to understand conservation of the cell death machinery across the tree of life. Students will complete written and visual assignments, examine case studies from the primary literature, and learn the basic application of structural biology software (Pymol, ChimeraX). Open to Biology, Biochemistry, and MBBC majors, or by waiver.

Alex G. Johnson is a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School who grew up in Norwich, Vermont. He completed his B.A. in Biochemistry at Reed College in Oregon, and his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology at Stanford University in California./