REGGIE YADAO DELA CRUZ

Department of Biology
College of Arts and Sciences
Central Mindanao University

2010
 Biology 85 (Cell Biology)
Course Outline

Credit: 3 units : 2 units lec (2h/week) and 1 unit lab(3h/week)

Course Description: Structure and function common to eukaryotic cells. Emphases on ultrastructure of
organelles and chemical composition of substance in relation to functions.

Course Objectives:
1. Understand how a cell functions as a biological unit.
2. Become familiar with the various sub-cellular structures and organelles inside the eukaryotic cells.
3. Understand how proteins are synthesized, transported and degraded.
4. Describe how cells read the genome.
5. Learn about membrane structure and molecular transport.
6. Gain an introduction to cell communication.
7. Understand the basic events of the cell cycle and the importance of programmed cell death.
8. Gain an appreciation for the relevance of cell biology to human medical practices.

Main Textbooks:

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. 2008. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed.
Garland Science. NY, USA. (can be accessed at www.garlandscience.com)
Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Scott, M.P., Bretscher, A., Ploegh, H., Matsudaira, P. 2008. Molecular
Cell Biology 6th ed. W.H. Freeman and company.
Weaver, R. 2008. Molecular Biology. McGrawHill, Inc. New York.

UNIT I. INTRODUCTION TO THE CELL

1.1 Life Begins With Cells

a. The Diversity and Commonality of Cells
b. The Molecules of a Cell
c. The Work of Cells
d. Investigating Cells and Their Parts
e. A Genome Perspective on Evolution
1.2 Chemical Foundations
a. Atomic Bonds and Molecular Interactions
b. Chemical Building Blocks of Cells
c. Chemical Equilibrium
d. Biochemical Energetics
1.3 Protein Structure and Function
a. Hierarchical Structure of Proteins
b. Folding, Modification, and Degradation of Proteins
c. Enzymes and the Chemical Work of Cells
d. Molecular Motors and the Mechanical Work of Cells
e. Common Mechanisms for Regulating Protein Function
f. Purifying, Detecting, and Characterizing Proteins (c/o laboratory)
UNIT II. HOW CELLS READ THE GENOME

2.1 Basic Molecular Genetic Mechanisms

a. Structure of Nucleic Acids
b. Transcription of Protein-Coding Genes and Formation of Functional mRNA
c. Control of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes
d. The Three Roles of RNA in Translation
e. Stepwise Synthesis of Proteins on Ribosomes
f. DNA Replication
2.2 Molecular Genetic Techniques and Genomics (c/o laboratory)
a. Genetic Analysis of Mutations to Identify and Study Genes
b. DNA Cloning by Recombinant DNA Methods
c. Characterizing and Using Cloned DNA Fragments
d. Genomics: Genome-wide Analysis of Gene Structure and Expression
e. Inactivating the Function of Specific Genes in Eukaryotes
f. Identifying and Locating Human Disease Genes
2.3 Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression
a. Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Control and RNA Polymerases
b. Regulatory Sequences in Protein-Coding Genes
c. Activators and Repressors of Transcription
d. Transcription Initiation by RNA Polymerase II
e. Molecular Mechanisms of Transcription Activation and Repression
f. Regulation of Transcription-Factor Activity
g. Regulated Elongation and Termination of Transcription
h. Other Eukaryotic Transcription Systems

UNIT III. MEMBRANES AND MOLECULAR TRANSPORT

3.1 Biomembranes and cell architecture

a. Biomembranes: Lipid Composition and Structural Organization
b. Biomembranes: Protein Components and Basic Functions
c. Organelles of the Eukaryotic Cell
d. The Cytoskeleton: Components and Structural Functions
3.2 Transport of Ions and Small Molecules Across Cell Membranes
a. Overview of Membrane Transport
b. ATP-Powered Pumps and the Intracellular Ionic Environment
c. Nongated Ion Channels and the Resting Membrane Potential
d. Cotransport by Symporters and Antiporters
e. Movement of Water
f. Transepithelial Transport
g. Voltage-Gated Ion Channels and the Propagation of Action Potentials in Nerve Cells
h. Neurotransmitters and Receptor and Transport
i. Proteins in Signal Transmission at Synapses
3.3 Moving Proteins into Membranes and Organelles
a. Translocation of Secretory Proteins Across the ER Membrane
b. Insertion of Proteins into the ER Membrane
 c. Protein Modifications, Folding, and Quality Control in the ER
d. Export of Bacterial Proteins
e. Sorting of Proteins to Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
f. Sorting of Peroxisomal Proteins
3.4 Vesicular Traffic, Secretion and Endocytosis
a. Molecular Mechanisms of Vesicular Traffic
b. Vesicle Trafficking in the Early Stages of the Secretory Pathway
c. Protein Sorting and Processing in Later Stages of the Secretory Pathway
d. Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis and the Sorting of Internalized Proteins
e. Synaptic Vesicle Function and Formation

UNIT IV. CELL COMMUNICATION

4.1 Signalling at the Cell Surface

a. Signaling Molecules and Cell-Surface Receptors
b. Intracellular Signal Transduction
c. G Protein–Coupled Receptors That Activate or Inhibit Adenylyl Cyclase
d. G Protein–Coupled Receptors That Regulate Ion Channels
e. G Protein–Coupled Receptors That Activate Phospholipase C
f. Activation of Gene Transcription by G Protein–Coupled Receptors
4.2 Signalling Pathways that Control Gene Activity
a. TGF_ Receptors and the Direct Activation of Smads
b. Cytokine Receptors and the JAK-STAT Pathway
c. Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and Activation of Ras
d. MAP Kinase Pathways
e. Phosphoinositides as Signal Transducers
f. Pathways That Involve Signal-Induced Protein Cleavage
g. Down-Modulation of Receptor Signaling

UNIT V. CELL CYCLE AND CELL DEATH

5.1 Integrating Cells into Tissues

a. Cell–Cell and Cell–Matrix Adhesion: An Overview
b. Sheetlike Epithelial Tissues: Junctions and Adhesion Molecules
c. The Extracellular Matrix of Epithelial Sheets
d. The Extracellular Matrix of Nonepithelial Tissues
e. Adhesive Interactions and Nonepithelial Cells
f. Plant Tissues
5.2 Regulating the Eukaryotic Cell Cycle
a. Overview of the Cell Cycle and Its Control
b. Molecular Mechanisms for Regulating Mitotic Events
c. Cell-Cycle Control in Mammalian Cells
d. Checkpoints in Cell-Cycle Regulation
5.3 Cell Birth, Lineage and Death
a. The Birth of Cells
b. Cell-Type Specification in Yeast
c. Specification and Differentiation of Muscle
 d. Regulation of Asymmetric Cell Division
e. Cell Death and Its Regulation
5.4 Cancer Biology
a. Tumor Cells and the Onset of Cancer
b. The Genetic Basis of Cancer
c. Oncogenic Mutations in Growth-Promoting Proteins
d. Mutations Causing Loss of Growth-Inhibiting and Cell-Cycle Controls
e. The Role of Carcinogens and DNA Repair in Cancer

Special Topics to be assigned:

1. The cell biology of HIV-AIDS
2. The cell biology of cystic fibrosis
3. The cell biology of pancreatic cancer
4. The cell biology of Alzheimer’s disease
5. The cell biology of Atherosclerosis, Heart Attacks, and Strokes
 PREFACE

This compilation of lecture notes and powerpoint slides in cell and

molecular biology topics is prepared to provide students guide in learning basic

concepts on the structure and function of the cell. A compilation of videos in a CD

is also provided. It has been observed that videos aid the students in their deeper

understanding of the recent concepts in molecular cell biology.