Cell Biology B
Code
10520
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Credits
3.0
Teacher in charge
Margarida Casal Ribeiro Castro Caldas Braga
Weekly hours
3
Total hours
27
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The main objective of this course is to provide a solid grounding in the eukaryotic cell structure, in the role of the main cellular organelles and in the mechanisms involved in the cell-extracellular milieu or cell-cell communication.
It is expected that by the end of the course students are able to: i) understand the functional organization of eukaryotic cells; ii) characterize structurally and functionally the main cellular organelles; iii) explain the mechanisms involved in cell-extracellular milieu communication; iv) identify the mechanisms underlying cell-cell communication.
Finally, it is expected that students will develop skills in searching, understanding, and discussing the scientific literature in this field.
Prerequisites
None
Subject matter
1. Overview of prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells. The cell as a frontier unit.
2. Cell membrane – the functional boundaries in the cell. Chemical nature, organizational and physical properties. Membrane transport.
3. Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex: structure and global functioning.
4. Lysosome: structural and functional properties; the digestion centre of the cell. Peroxisome: structural and functional properties.
5. Cytoskeleton: Microtubules, actin filaments and intermediate filaments. Spatial organization and function of cytoskeleton. Molecular motors driving mobility along the cytoskeleton.
6. Mitochondria: structure and function. Apoptotic cell death.
7. Cell signalling and communication; cell-to-cell information. Extracellular signalling and cell response. Functional characterization of signalling molecules, receptors, signal transduction proteins, target molecules and fundamental cell changes.
Bibliography
. Molecular Cell Biology
Lodish H, Berk A, Kaiser CA, Krieger M, Bretscher A, Ploegh H, Amon A, Scott MP
7th Ed. WH Freeman & Company, NY, 2012
. Molecular Biology of the Cell
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P
5th Ed. Garland Science, NY, 2007
. The World of the Cell
Hardin J, Bertoni GP, Kleinsmith LJ, ,
8th Ed. Benjamin Cummings Publ. Co., 2010
. The Cell. A molecular Approach
Cooper GM, Hausman RE
5th Ed. Sinauer Associates Inc., 2009
. Scientific papers (available at the moodle page)
Teaching method
Lectures will be based on textbook material and selected papers from the current literature.
In addition problem-solving sessions will be performed as well as discussion of recent scientific papers.
Evaluation method
Students with more than 1/3 absences in problem-solving sessions will be excluded from final exam.
The evaluation will result from 3 components (fianl grade must be =or > 9,5/20pt):
1) 2 writen tests (80% of final grade) ; minimal grade 8/16 pt
2) an oral group presentation (15% of final grade)
3) performance during classes (5% of final grade)
Attached please find more information.