Prof. Xiaojuan Wang (xiaojuanwang@lzu.edu.cn)
Attendance is required and students will turn in weekly problem set and TAs will go over the answers. Please turn off your cell phones during class.
Text: Z. Zhai, X. Wang and M. Ding (2000) Cell Biology. First Ed. Higher Education Press. pp. 491
Grade Policies:
? Weekly problem sets count towards 30% of final grade
? Final Examination count towards 70% of final grade
? Make-up exams will be given only for valid reasons
? Regrade requests must be submitted prior to the next exam
Tests will cover information in lectures and reading assignments.
Course Description: This course will attempt to introduce the students to modern cell biology. Topic includes organization of eukaryotic chromosomes, the flow of genetic information from nucleus to cytoplasm, cellular membranes and organelles, control of cell division and signaling between cells. Classical cell biology will be discussed in historical perspectives. Current techniques used in the study of cell biology will be discussed in the appropriate sections.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should:
1) Understand the structures and purposes of basic components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, especially macromolecules, membranes, and organelles.
2) Understand how these cellular components are used to generate and utilize energy in cells.
3) Understand the cellular components underlying mitotic cell division.
COURSE OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION (Chapter 1 )
- General introduction to cell biology
2. INFORMATIONAL MACROMOLECULES (Chapter 2)
- Features of the two major types of macromolecules that are essential for biological information flow, nucleic acids and proteins, and the forces that determine and stabilize their structure.
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
3. CELL ORGANELLES AND MICROSCOPY (Chapter 3)
- Introduction to cell organelles and their function, and the microscopy as a tool for their study
4. MEMBRANES (Chapter 4 &5)
- Membrane components
- Phospholipid bilayers
- Membrane proteins and their interaction in real membranes
- Basics of membrane transport systems (both active and passive)
5. ENDOMEMBRANE SYSTEM (Chapters 6)
- Protein processing in the endomembrane system
- Targeting of proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum
- Co-translational insertion of proteins in membranes
- Protein processing in the ER and Golgi
- Vesicle formation, secretory & and lysosomal pathways
- Endocytosis and intracellular digestion
6. MITOCHONDRIA AND CHLOROPLASTS (Chapters 7)
- Mitochondria and chloroplasts as degenerate prokaryotic symbionts and their role in the chemiosmotic production of ATP
7. BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION FLOW (Chapters 8 & 9)
- Chromosomal replication
- Overview of transcription, transcript and translation that is needed as background for later work in the course and which provides background for later work in genetics and molecular biology
8. CYTOSKELETON (Chapters 10)
- The major cytoskeletal components of cells
- Dynamic instability of microtubules and actin filaments
- Motor proteins, cell motility
9. CELL CYCLE AND MITOSIS (Chapter 11, 12 & 13)
- Checkpoint cell cycle control
- Activation and control of cyclin dependent kinase activity
- Molecular Mechanics of Mitosis
- Cell senescence, apoptosis
