PROTEIN MISFOLDING DISEASES: Cambridge University Professor Christopher Dobson is due on campus next week to deliver a talk titled "Life on the Edge: The Nature and Origins of Protein Misfolding Diseases."

The ability of proteins to fold up in a precise way allows them to take on a vast range of functions. But when folding goes wrong, serious problems can occur — such as the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease, "mad cow" disease and related conditions.

Dobson is expected to discuss recent work showing a narrow boundary between normal and aberrant behavior, and how this sheds light on the origin, spread and possible prevention of these diseases.

His talk and visit to campus is supported by the David L. Weaver Lectureship in Biophysics and Computational Biology, established in 2006 by a donation from Elena Weaver and her sons Timothy (an assistant professor of anthropology at UC Davis), Christopher and Ash Weaver.

The late David Weaver was a professor at Tufts University who had intended to spend a sabbatical year at UC Davis before dying suddenly in 2006.

Dobson's talk is scheduled for 3 p.m. April 28 in 1005 Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility.

-- Andy Fell

LECTURESHIP ON BEER AND WINE: The Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science announced that it is still taking sign-ups for the institute's Spring Lectureship, a free event scheduled for May 2. The speakers:

• Garrett Oliver, brewmaster, Brooklyn Brewery and author of The Brewmaster's Table: "Beer and Anthropological Developments Through the Ages."
• Jose Fernandez, chief executive officer, Constellation Wines North America: "Balancing the Art and Business of Wine."

The event is set to run from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. People interested in attending are asked to contact Patricia Glass, (530) 754-6349 or pglass@ucdavis.edu. More information: rmi.ucdavis.edu.

All seminars and colloquia: calendar.ucdavis.edu