BS350-6-SP-CO:
Mechanisms of Neurological Disease
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
16 February 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC CK00 Genetics (Including Foundation Year)
In this module, the molecular and biochemical basis of protein folding and misfolding, loss of protein function and the connection of these events to disorders such as the prion diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease and Retinitis Pigmentosa, will be explored.
The proteins involved in each of these disorders, the structural changes taking place, will be covered. Finally, the module will investigate new therapies that are under development to treat these disorders.
The aim of module is:
- To explore the molecular and biochemical basis of protein folding and misfolding, loss of protein function and the connection of these events to disorders such as the prion diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Retinitis Pigmentosa.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Discuss and explain the key processes involved in protein folding and misfolding, and explain how they are linked to disease.
- Discuss and explain the unifying mechanism by which amyloid forms.
- Discuss and explain Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases and related dementias and understand and describe the key factors involved in each of their pathologies.
- Discuss and explain how misfolding of membrane proteins is involved in disease.
- Discuss and explain the therapeutic strategies being developed to address protein misfolding based diseases.
The complex three-dimensional structure and the function of a protein are intimately linked. However, as a consequence of folding inefficiency, environmental stress, genetic mutation, and/or infection, the folded structure of a protein can become altered causing loss of the normal protein function, toxic gain of function, or dominant negative effects.
This module will be delivered via:
- Eighteen 1-hour lectures.
- One revision class before the summer exam.
- Two workshop/seminars.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Philip Reeves, email: preeves@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Phil Reeves, Dr Gareth Wright
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
Dr Thomas Clarke
University of East Anglia
Senior lecturer/associate professor
Available via Moodle
Of 24 hours, 24 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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