Course Description
This advanced muscle physiology course will focus predominately on the biology of mitochondria and the physiology of one cell type in which the mitochondria live, skeletal muscle. Topics and discussions will range from mitochondrial biogenesis during skeletal muscle adaptation to mitochondrial dysfunction in diseases such as aging, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will have different exams than the
undergraduates in order to document their advanced ability to
integrate and apply research-based information about skeletal
muscle and mitochondrial physiology. Also, graduate students
will be required to do the following to document their
advanced skills in critical thinking, appropriately evaluating
the research literature, and competency in applying this
research-based information: write a research-based paper
that reviews a selected mitochondrial disease and treatment
topic (5 to 10 pages, with 5 to 10 references).
Athena Title
Muscle & Mitochondria Physiol
Prerequisite
BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E or BIOL 2107H or BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H or BCMB 3100 or BCMB 3100E or BCMB 3100H or KINS 4630/6630 or KINS 4630H or VPHY 3100 or VPHY 3100E or permission of department
Corequisite
VPHY(KINS) 5690L/7690L
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
• To critically evaluate scientific literature on mitochondria and muscle physiology • To demonstrate foundational knowledge of the mitochondrial function and pathophysiology • To define how dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to disease pathology • To compare and contrast mitochondrial quality control processes in health and disease • To obtain hands-on experience in methods to assess mitochondrial content and function in skeletal muscle
Topical Outline
•Mitochondrial structure, function, and key substrates and products -Inner vs. outer mitochondrial membrane -Oxidative phosphorylation complexes, substrates, and products •Skeletal muscle mitochondria and exercise adaptation -Skeletal muscle mitochondrial populations and roles in muscle function -Mitochondrial adaptation to exercise training •Mitochondrial DNA damage and repair -Mitochondrial DNA origin and inheritance -Contributors to mtDNA damage and mtDNA sensitivity to damage -Change in mitochondrial physiology with damage omtDNA repair processes •Mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy -Cellular processes (nuclear and mtDNA) for increasing mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle -Cellular processes for removing damaged mitochondrial from skeletal muscle •Research tools in mitochondrial biology -Ways to assess mitochondrial structure and function in skeletal muscle -Research models from cells to nematodes to humans in mitochondrial biology research •Mitochondrial theory of aging •Mitochondrial myopathies •Obesity and diabetes •Alzheimer’s disease •Skeletal muscle regeneration -Stem cell metabolism -Satellite cell environment
Syllabus