FALL 2001
POST-TRANSCRIPTIONAL (NON-GENOMIC)
ACTIONS OF STEROID HORMONES
Instructor: Dr. David Shapiro
Office: 413 RAL
Phone: 333-1788
E-mail: djshapir@uiuc.edu
Time: Tuesday, 10-11:50 a.m.
Place: 204 Noyes Lab
Dates: Oct. 15-Dec. 7 (2nd 8 weeks
only)
Credit: 1/2 Unit (registration
information)
Prerequisites: This course is for graduate students with a significant background
in biochemistry, molecular and cellular
biology.
The core paradigm for steroid hormone action has been that
steroid hormones bind to their protein receptors which are ligand-activated
regulators of the transcription of specific genes. Recently, there has been an upsurge in studies of post-transcriptional,
or non-genomic actions of steroid hormones. These non-genomic actions represent
important new pathways for steroid hormone action. Important post-transcriptional actions of steroid hormones
include the regulation of mRNA stability in the cytoplasm and activation of all
three of the major classes of protein kinase pathways. Activation of one or more of these protein
kinase-based signaling pathways by steroid hormones or by hormone antagonists
can stimulate cell growth, protect cells against apoptosis, or stimulate
apoptosis. This course will focus on a
discussion of the recent literature in this field. Emphasis will be on the biological consequences of non-genomic
actions of steroid hormones, and such central issues as the existence of
membrane-associated forms of steroid receptors and key mechanistic issues
raised by this expanded view of steroid hormone action.