Unit name | Organisation and Communication in Cells |
---|---|
Unit code | BIOC20201 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Jo Adams |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites | |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Biochemistry |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
The unit will develop material introduced in the Level C/4 unit, Biochemistry 1G, and cover the structure of proteins and how they are studied experimentally, how the cell is organised at a molecular level and the intracellular signalling pathways used by cells in response to hormonal stimulation. The teaching in the unit is delivered through lectures and is supported by practical sessions, problems workshops, and directed-self education.
The unit aims to develop an understanding the following areas:
Element 1. Cellular Organisation I
" Techniques used in imaging cells
" The structure of membrane proteins
" Intracellular membrane organisation
" Glycosylation
" The secretory and endosomal pathways
" Intracellular protein degradation
Element 2. Cellular Signalling
" How proteins are purified and studied using biophysical techniques
" Protein-ligand interactions
" Signalling through small G-proteins
" The role of phospholipids and calcium in cell signalling
" The role of protein kinases
The units aims to develop the following skills:
" Competency in a number of biochemical techniques in the practical laboratory
" Numeracy and the ability to complete calculations based on protein-ligand interactions and enzyme kinetics
" The ability to research and present a defined area of Biochemistry in written form.
Students should be able to demonstrate the following:
1. Knowledge and understanding proteins and how they are studied.
2. Knowledge and understanding of cellular organisation and the trafficking pathways in cells.
3. Knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved intracellular signalling by hormones.
4. The ability to perform biochemical calculations based on enzyme kinetics and ligand binding.
5. Knowledge and understanding of the techniques used in the practical sessions.
6. The ability to research a specific biochemical topic using textbooks and the scientific literature and to present their findings in a written format.
Lectures
Problems workshops
Practicals
The overall mark for the unit will be determined as follows:
Recommended reading includes the most recent editions of:
" Alberts et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Science
" Voet & Voet, Biochemistry, Wiley
" Lodish et al, Molecular Cell Biology, Freeman
" Berg et al, Biochemistry, Freeman
" Hardie, Biochemical Messengers, Chapman & Hall
" Creighton, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Properties, Freeman Students will also be expected to read a number of relevant review articles in the scientific literature.