Bi7001 Cell Architecture

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Renata Veselská, Ph.D., M.Sc. (lecturer)
RNDr. Jan Škoda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Renata Veselská, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Renata Veselská, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 16:00–17:50 B11/333
Prerequisites
Bi1700 Cell Biology && Bi4020 Molecular biology
Knowledge of cell and molecular biology at the bachelor's level.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective of this course is to enable students to understand the logic of the 3D-organization of eukaryotic (especially animal) cells and to recognize the mutual spatial relationships among cellular components in the context of their functions.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: understand the 3D-organization of eukaryotic cells; describe the 3D-structure of cellular components and their spatial relationships; discuss the relationship between the architecture of specific cell types and their functions.
Syllabus
  • 1. THE RULES OF 3D ORGANIZATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CELLS: membrane organelles, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, CAMs, cell interactions and cell junctions (recap of the basic knowledge).
  • 2. CELL NUCLEUS: internal spatial organization of the cell nucleus, nuclear envelope and nuclear lamina, nuclear pores and the communication between cell nucleus and cytoplasm.
  • 3. SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE EUKARYOTIC CELL: architecture of cytoplasmic organelles, mutual spatial arrangement of membrane organelles and their functional relationships, vesicular transport.
  • 4. BIOGENESIS AND DEGRADATION OF ORGANELLES: overview of the mechanisms and spatial arrangement of organelles biogenesis and degradation, autophagy and its importance for the cell, autophagy, lysosomes, vacuoles.
  • 5. MITOCHONDRIA: mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, mitochondrial networks, mitophagy, contact with endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles, regulation under physiological and pathological conditions.
  • 6. MICROTUBULES: structure and dynamics of cytoplasmic microtubules in different types of eukaryotic cells, MTOCs, structure and dynamics of the mitotic spindle, microtubule-directed movement; primary cillia and kinocillia, microtubule toxins.
  • 7. ACTIN FILAMENTS: structure and dynamics of actin filaments in different types of eukaryotic cells, focal adhesions and adhesion belts, actin filament-directed movement, contractile ring, muscle contraction, actin filament toxins.
  • 8. INTERMEDIATE FILAMENTS: structure and dynamics of intermediate filaments, interactions with other cytoskeletal components, hemidesmosomes and desmosomes, classification of the IF proteins and their expression patterns, practical applications.
  • 9. SPATIAL DYNAMICS OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE: cortical skeleton, spatial organization and dynamics of the cell surface, cell junctions (gap junctions, tight junctions), exocytosis and endocytosis, plasma membrane turnover, extracellular vesicles.
  • 10. EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX: glycocalyx of animal cells, ECM components, ECM dynamics and degradation.
Literature
  • Boal D: Mechanics of the Cell, Cambridge University Press 2012, ISBN 978-0521540629
  • ALBERTS, Bruce, Alexander JOHNSON, Julian LEWIS, David Owen MORGAN, Martin C. RAFF, Keith ROBERTS and Peter WALTER. Molecular biology of the cell. Edited by John H. Wilson - Tim Hunt. Sixth edition. New York, NY: Garland Science, 2014, xxxiv, 134. ISBN 9780815344322. info
Teaching methods
Lectures using computer presentations, discussions with students.
Assessment methods
Oral exam, students draw 3 questions from the assigned exam topics.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2024/Bi7001