UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD

Department of Biochemistry

Course Outline (Major/Core Course)

Program BS (Hons.) Course Dr. Aftab Ahmad
Biochemistry Instructor Dept. of Biochemistry, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad.
Years/Semester Winter 2022-23 E-Mail aftab.ahmad@uaf.edu.pk
Title of the Course BIOMEMBRANES AND CELL SIGNALING

Course No Biochem-615
Credit Hours 3(3-0)
Prerequisites Theoretical knowledge about various mechanisms in cell membranes
and cell signaling in biological membranes
Follow Up Basic courses of Biochemistry and related disciplines
Category Major course
Aims Theoretical knowledge about chemical nature of membranes and princi-
ples of cell signals in different cellular pathways.
Learning Objectives By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of bio-membranes and cell
signalling
2. Describe chemical composition, properties and structure of
biomembranes such as protein-protein interactions and transport
mechanism
3. Learn advance knowledge about cell signalling pathways, G-
protein, receptor-tyrosine kinases, lipid derived second messengers and
Insulin signalling.

Syllabus Introduction to biomembranes: Chemical composition, properties and

structure of membranes; Characterization of bio-membranes;
Transmembrane proteins; Membrane junctions; Receptor-ligand
interactions; Protein-protein interactions; Interaction of proteins with
other molecules; Membrane transport mechanisms; Resting membrane
potential; Action potential; Transport of large molecules; Gap
junctions and nuclear pores; Principles of cell signaling: Cell signaling
pathways and networks; Signaling through G-protein their activation
and impact on gene expression; Receptor-tyrosine kinases; Gated ion
channels; Cross talk between signaling pathways; Signaling through
enzyme coupled receptors; Alternative signaling routes in gene
regulation: Secondary messengers; Diacylglycerol, calcium, cyclic
AMP, cyclic GMP; Lipid derived second messengers; Inositol-3-
 Phosphate; Neurotransmitters; Insulin signaling; Signaling in plants
and microorganisms.

Suggested Readings 1. Nelson, D.L. and M.M. Cox. 2017. Lehninger Principles of
Biochemistry. 7th ed. WH Freeman & Company, New York,
USA.
2. Wilson, J. and T. Hunt. 2015. Molecular Biology of the Cell;
The problem book. 6th Edition Garland Science USA.
3. Lodish, H., C.A. Kaiser, M. Krieger. M.P. Scott, A. Bretscher,
H. Ploegh, & P. Matsudaira, W.H. Freeman. 2016. Molecular
Cell Biology. 8th Edition. Macmillan Publishers, W. H.
Freeman USA
4. Berg, J.M., J.L. Tymoczko & L. Stryer W.H. Freeman. 2011.
Biochemistry. 7th
edition. Published by Macmillan Publishers, W. H. Freeman
USA.
5. Alberts B., A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts & P.
Walter. 2014. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6 th Editon. Taylor
and Francis, Oxford UK.
6. Karp, G. 2009. Cell and Molecular Biology; Concepts and
Experiments. 6th Edition. John Wiley &Sons USA.

Reference Material  Internet

 Recommended books for the course
 Latest journals

Instructional  Power Point Multimedia

Aids/Resources  Material uploaded on LMS
 White board/marker
 Photocopied materials
Teaching Strategies  Class Lectures
 Online lectures
 Hybrid mode
 Class discussions
 Quiz tests
 Assignments
Marks Sessional Mid Final Total
Criteria Assignments Paper Paper
Assessment
Theory 6 18 36 60
Result Total: 60 Marks
Recommendations The students of BS (Hons.) should consult the recommended books
and latest journals on latest developments in the related field.
 UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD
Department of Biochemistry
Name: Dr. Aftab Ahmad
Designation: Associate Professor

TEACHING SCHEDULE: WATER AND MINERAL METABOLISM (Biochem-612)

Week/ Topics to be covered Book Pages Teaching Mode

Lecture
Week 1
Lecture 1 Introduction to Biomembranes Book 1 Class Lecture
Lecture 2 Chemical composition of Book 5 Class Lecture
Lecture 3 biomembranes
Week 2
Lecture 1 Properties and Structure of Book 1 Class Lecture
Lecture 2 membranes Book 6 Class Lecture
Lecture 3 Characterization of biomembranes
Week 3
Lecture 1 Transmembrane proteins Book 1 Hybrid Mode (Material
Lecture 2 Membrane junctions Book 6 Uploaded)
Lecture 3 Hybrid Mode
Week 4
Lecture 1 Receptor-ligand interactions Book 1 Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 Book 4 Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3
Week 5
Lecture 1 Protein-protein interactions Book 1 Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 Interaction of proteins with other Book 6 Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3 molecules
Week 6
Lecture 1 Membrane Transport Mechanisms Book 1 -- Hybrid mode/Online
Lecture 2 Active transport Book 2 -- Lecture
Lecture 3 Ion channels Hybrid mode
(Uploaded online material)
Week 7
Lecture 1 Resting Membrane Potential Book 1 -- Hybrid mode
Lecture 2 Action potential Book 6 Hybrid mode
Lecture 3 Transport of large molecules; Gap Book 4
junctions and nuclear pores
Week 8
Lecture 1 Quiz --
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Week 9
Mid Test --

Week 10
Lecture 1 Principles of cell signaling Book 1 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 Features of cell signaling Book 5 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3
Week 11
Lecture 1 Cell signaling pathways Book 1 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 Cell signaling networks Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3
Week 12
Lecture 1 Signaling through G-protein and Book 1 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 their activation Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3 Impact on gene expression
Receptor-tyrosine kinases
Week 13
Lecture 1 Gated ion channels Book 1 Hybrid mode Class
Lecture 2 Cross talk between signaling Book 6 discussion)
Lecture 3 pathways Class Lecture/Power Point
Signaling through enzyme coupled
receptors
Week 14
Lecture 1 Alternative signaling routes in Book 1 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 gene regulation Book 4
Lecture 3
Week 15
Lecture 1 Secondary messengers; Book 1 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 diacylglycerol, calcium, Cyclic Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3 AMP, Cyclic GMP, Inositol
3Phosphate
Lipid derived second messengers
Week 16
Lecture 1 Neurotransmitters and their Book 1 Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 2 functions in signaling Class Lecture/Power Point
Lecture 3 Insulin signaling
Week 17
Lecture 1 Plants Book 1 Class lecture
Lecture 2 Signaling in Plants Book 6 Hybrid Mode (Class
Lecture 3 discussion)
Week 18
Lecture 1 Microorganisms Book 1
Lecture 2 Signaling in microorganisms
Lecture 3
Final Term Examinations and evaluation
Final Term Examinations and evaluation