Ph.D. Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine 2009/2010
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC)
University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Molecular Neuroscience Course
Cnc Auditorium, 2nd floor
Date: February 22-26, 2010
Coordinators:
Ana Luisa Carvalho (alc@ibili.uc.pt)
Carlos B. Duarte (cbduarte@ci.uc.pt)
Cláudia Cavadas (ccavadas@gmail.com)
Lecturers:
José A. Esteban
Centro de Bíologia Molecular Severo Ochoa - CSIC
Universidad Autómona de Madrid
Madrid, Spain
Email: jaesteban@cbm.uam.es
Clive Bramham
Department of Biomedicine
University of Bergen
Bergen, Norway
Email: Clive.Bramham@biomed.uib.no
João Peça
Department of Neurobiology
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC
USA
Email: peca@neuro.duke.edu
Ana Luisa Carvalho
CNC &
Department of Life Sciences
University of Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal
Carlos B. Duarte
CNC &
Department of Life Sciences
University of Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal
Ramiro D. Almeida
CNC
University of Coimbra
Coimbra, Portugal
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Monday, February 22nd
9-9.15h: Structure of the course; Introduction of students and lecturers
9.15h-10.30h: Introduction to Synapses: Structure-Function and Molecular Composition
Ana Luisa Carvalho
11-12.15h: Presynaptic Terminal Differentiation
Ramiro D. Almeida
14-15.15h: Molecular Triggers of Synapse Formation and Maturation
Ramiro D. Almeida
15.30-16.30h: Molecular architecture of the postsynaptic density and the role of scaffolding proteins in disease
João Peça
Tuesday, February 23rd
9h-10.15h: Postsynaptic Receptor Function
José A. Esteban
10.30h-11.45h: Molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity: postsynaptic receptor trafficking
José A. Esteban
14-17h: Project presentations by students (based on the assigned papers)
Ana Carolina Moreira, Marta Vieira, Miranda Mele
Ana Luísa Pinho, Elisabete Augusto, Patrícia Monteiro
Ana Raquel Martins, Carlos Matos, Tânia Perestrelo
Wednesday, February 24th
9h-10.15h: Synaptic plasticity and memory
José A. Esteban
10.30h-11.45h: Inter- and intra-cellular communication by neurotrophins
Carlos B. Duarte
14-17h: Project presentations by students (based on the assigned papers)
Ângela Crespo, Joana Fernandes, Márcio Rodrigues
Carlos Rodrigues, Ana Rita Santos, Paula Banca
Cláudio Roque, Luís Ribeiro, Liliana Letra
Thursday, February 25th
7.30h-12h: Bird watching near Coimbra (everyone invited)
14h-15.15h: Molecular mechanisms of late phase synaptic plasticity – role of mRNA trafficking and local dendritic translation
Clive Bramham
16h: Seminar by José Esteban
Intracellular machinery and signaling mechanisms for synaptic plasticity
Friday, February 26th
9h-10.15h:
Structural changes associated with synaptic plasticity
Clive Bramham
10.30-13.30h: Project presentations by students (based on the assigned papers)
Helena Leitão, Dominique Fernandes, Graciano Leal
Humberto Ferreira, Conceição Pereira, João T Costa
Marília Cordeiro, Luís Leitão, Tiago Alfaro
16h: Seminar by Clive Bramham
The Arc of synaptic memory
Background reading:
Student Assignments:
The students were organized in groups (Groups 1-9) and each group was assigned an original paper. The group will design and present a project, based on the evidences presented in the paper. The project will define possible routes that the research could take, taking into account the state of the art in the field, and should be presented in the form of a grant proposal. The presentation (20 min + 20 min discussion) should include:
- Title
- Brief review of the field
- Identification of the contribution of the assigned paper to the field
- Identification of the question that stems from the assigned paper and which will be addressed in the proposed work
- Objectives
