Cell Regulation and Dynamics

Recommended Prerequisites

The student must have a background in basic Organic chemistry and Cell Biology. Ability to read scientifc texts in English.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, tutorial classes and projects. Final exame (70% lectures) and project presentation (30%).

Learning Outcomes

Cell regulation encompasses all the functions cells accomplish to maintain homeostasis and how they execute an intracellular response to environment changes and stimuli, including their responses to extracellular signals (hormones, neurotransmitters, etc.).
The students must be able to understand and discuss giving relevant examples:
e) that metabolic regulation, cellular communication and signalling cascades are operative in cell response to changing cues from neighboring cells, internal stimuli or the external environment;
f) that aberrant mechanisms and dysfunctional signalling cascades are connected to disease states;
g) that many drugs and other compounds exert their effects via similar mechanisms;
h) that therapeutic interventions may de designed to target molecules involved in cell signalling and to modulate cellular functions.
Specific examples of dysregulation discussed are: learning and memory, neurodegeneration, aging, vascular biology

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Dynamic regulation of cell functions and modulation of protein activities: from the gene and protein turnover to sub-unit association; transcriptional regulation, posttranslational modifications and allosteric control of enzyme activity
2.Cell messengers and components of cell signalling pathways
Paradigms of cellular signalling:kinase/phosphatase pathways;redox pathways and targets; discussion of integrated cases-e.g.,Nrf2, sirtuins, nitric oxide synthases
3.Integration of cell response to diverse stimuli (hormones, neurotransmitters, nutrients, growth factors, oxidative and shear stress, cytokines, xenobiotics and drugs);aberrant pathways, disruption of homeostasis and stress, dysfunction and disease
4.Overview of global cell regulatory programmes:Regulation of metabolism.Energy production
Regulation of cell death
5.Problem-solving sessions and topics assigned to presentations:aging, neurodegeneration, vascular homeostasis, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, obesity, cancer

Head Lecturer(s)

João António Nave Laranjinha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

Thera are no convenient text books that might be used.
Instead the students are stimulated to read and search for reserach/review papers on the sevarl topics addressed in the course. Thsi is particularly relevant for the leaboration of their projects.
But, as a guide to help the students, the professor provides the students with a manual, consisting in the slides described and commented in the notes page and organized in chapters. Each slide is described with the help of research papers and professor´s notes. The research papers are thus included as references along the slides according to the respective subjects.