PřF:Bi8870 Mechanisms of cell death - Course Information

Bi8870 Mechanisms of cell death, function, methods

Extent and Intensity

2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

doc. RNDr. Alena Hyršlová Vaculová, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

prof. RNDr. Alois Kozubík, CSc.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Alena Hyršlová Vaculová, Ph.D.

Timetable

Tue 15:00–16:50 BFU

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

Students of the course will acquire knowledge and detailed survey about the role and molecular mechanisms of regulation of cell death, especially apoptosis, in multicellular organisms. Students will understand basic signaling pathways responsible for initiation/execution of cell death, and obtain information about individual crucial molecules and their function in modulation of cell death. They will be familiarized with the important role of cell death in development and treatment of various diseases, especially cancer. Finally, students will be provided with a detailed characteristics of modern methods currently available for detection of cell death, their practical applications, and general recommendations.

Syllabus

• 1) Introduction to cell death field, general overview, history of cell death research, crucial discoveries and scientists, basic definitions, classification of individual cell death forms, main biochemical and morphological features, physiological importance of cell death in the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Model organisms in apoptosis study, main signaling pathways. 2) Proteases in cell death I - caspases - definition, characteristics, structure, mechanisms of activation, function, classification, role of individual caspases in apoptosis regulation, caspases substrates and endogenous inhibitors, caspase cascades in model organisms. 3) Proteases in cell death II - non-caspase proteases – cathepsins, calpains, granzymes, and their activation, functions, substrates, role in cell death regulation, role of lysosomes. Metacaspases, paracaspases, their structure and function. 4) Intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Mitochondria and nucleus in regulation of apoptosis. Mitochondria: function in apoptosis, oxidative metabolism, mitochondrial membrane permeabilisation and potential, pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, their structure, activation, classification, function. Proapoptotic proteins released from mitochondria, mechanisms, consequences. 5) Extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Description of death receptor-mediated signaling pathway, characterisation of death receptors and ligands of TNF family (especially TRAIL, TNF, FasL). Physiological role of these ligands and their importance in therapy. Important molecules in extrinsic pathway. TRAIL- and FasL-induced signaling pathway. TRAIL – a model inductor of extrinsic apoptotic pathway and promising candidate for anticancer therapy. 6) Main cell death forms. Autophagy – types, characteristics, phases, important molecules, triggers, function. Necrosis – characterisation, molecular mechanisms, primary, secondary necrosis, necroptosis. Crosstalk between main cell death forms – molecular mechanisms. 7) Atypical cell death modalities. Mitotic catastrophe, pyroptosis, paraptosis, anoikis, excitotoxicity, entosis, eryptosis, cornification – characterisation of processes, molecular mechanisms of regulation, significance. 8) Cell death and disease I. Cell death pathways and significance in selected types of disease – neurodegenerative, autoimmune, cardiovascular disease, viral infections etc. Practical examples and regulations, therapy. 9) Cell death and disease II. Apoptosis and cancer – molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer cell resistance to apoptosis, cancer cell sensitisation to therapy, anticancer drugs and mechanisms of their action. Crosstalk between extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathway and its significance in anticancer therapy. Combined therapy in cancer, principles and applications. New therapeutic possibilities of apoptosis regulation. 10 - 11) Methods for cell death detection I and II – modern methods of cell and molecular biology and biochemistry. Apoptosis detection at the level of cell populations, individual cells, in vitro and in vivo detections. Detailed survey of currently available methods and guidelines how to use them. Principles of selected cell death detection methods, advantages, limitations, criteria for selection, applications. Data interpretation. Practical explanation and examples of the methods for detection of apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, mitotic catastrophy, general cell death methods.

Literature

• bude specifikováno v prubehu vyuky

Teaching methods

lectures accompanied by discussions

Assessment methods

Written examination.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• Bi8870en Mechanisms of Cell Death
  (!Bi8870) && !NOWANY(Bi8870)  

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
  
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