Goals
The goals of this course are to develop a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying basic processes in cell biology. This will be achieved by discussing in-depth experimental studies that lead to proposed mechanistic models. In addition, these studies will introduce you to potential experimental approaches to attack scientific questions. We encourage you to critically evaluate the experiments and to incorporate this information with that from your previous or ongoing courses and research activities.
Prerequisites
Prior course in cell biology or permission of instructor. Biochemistry / Gene Expression is recommended. The course will be taught with the assumption that you have had undergraduate courses and/or lab practice in these areas.
Course Instructors
- Thomas Kelly (Biomed 2, KellyThomasJ@uams.edu)
- Vladimir Lupashin (Biomed 2 261-2,Office 501-603-1170 vvlupashin@uams.edu)
- Melda Onal (Biomed 2, Office: (501)-320-7682 Monal@uams.edu)
- Brian Storrie (Biomed 2 262-2, StorrieBrian@uams.edu)
- Lee-Ann Macmillan Crow (MacmillancrowLeeA@uams.edu)
- Ryan Porter (RMPorter@uams.edu)
Course Structure
The course will be four credit hours; Class meetings: Tues/Fri from 10:00- noon in the Biomed 2 Conference Room 242-2 (the room is reserved till 12:30 PM) and/or Zoom (if necessary). The course will be a combination of lectures, weekly written work or problem sets, and class discussions.
Texts
There is no required text. Molecular Cell Biology by Lodish et al. is one of several textbooks that can be used for background information. Virtually all of the assigned readings will be on specific papers relevant to the topic being discussed.
Written Assignments
For some of the sections, there will be problem sets. For ALL sections, there will be written assignments. Please complete the assignments and send MS Word (or compatible) version at least two hours before the class.
Grading
- In -Class Paper Discussions (20%)
- Problem sets / written class assignments (30%)
- Exams (25% – 1st, 25% – 2nd)
General Outline and Topic Organization
| Date | Faculty | Class Period | General Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tues Jan 11 | Lupashin and Faculty | 1 | Course Organization/Introduction |
| Fri Jan 14 | Storrie | 2 | Using Microscopy in Cell Biology |
| Tues Jan 18 | Lupashin | 3 | ER and protein translocation |
| Fri Jan 21 | Lupashin | 4 | Protein folding and sorting at the ER |
| Tues Jan 25 | Lupashin | 5 | Vesicular trafficking – Protein machinery –vesicular coats |
| Fri Jan 28 | Lupashin | 6 | Rab cascade |
| Tues Feb 1 | Lupashin | 7 | Vesicular trafficking – protein machinery – tethers and SNAREs |
| Fri Feb 4 | Lupashin | 8 | Vesicular trafficking – pathways and regulations |
| Tues Feb 8 | Storrie | 9 | ER contact sites – non-vesicular trafficking |
| Fri Feb 11 | Storrie | 10 | Organelle Assembly and Function – the Golgi Apparatus as the prototype example |
| Tues Feb 15 | Storrie | 11 | Regulated secretion I. — Membrane dynamics in platelets |
| Fri Feb 18 | Storrie | 12 | Regulated secretion II. – Linking signaling to platelet granule secretion |
| Tues Feb 22 | Storrie | 13 | Cargo recognition in endocytosis |
| Fri Feb 25 | Exam I | 14 | Take-home exam – (Pick up on Friday, return on Mon, 11 a.m.) |
| Tues Mar 1 | No class. Exams will be returned by Thursday. | ||
| Fri Mar 4 | Lupashin, Storrie | 15 | Exam discussion |
| Tues Mar 8 | No class. Potential research day. | ||
| Fri Mar 11 | Onal | 16 | Autophagy –principle and machinery |
| Tues Mar 15 | Onal | 17 | Autophagy – specific pathways |
| Fri Mar 18 | Onal | 18 | Autophagy – model systems |
| Tues Mar 22 | Spring Break, no class | ||
| Fri Mar 25 | Spring Break, no class | ||
| Tues Mar 29 | Onal | 19 | Autophagy – role in pathophysiology |
| Fri Apr 1 | Porter | 20 | Extracellular vesicles – biogenesis |
| Tues Apr 5 | Porter | 21 | Extracellular vesicles – function in normal physiology |
| Fri Apr 8 | Porter | 22 | Extracellular vesicles – function in the pathophysiology |
| Tues Apr 12 | Kelly | 23 | Cytoskeleton |
| Fri Apr 15 | Kelly | 24 | Cytoskeleton |
| Tues Apr 19 | Kelly | 25 | Cytoskeleton |
| Fri Apr 22 | MacMillan-Crow | 26 | Mitochondria |
| Tues Apr 26 | MacMillan-Crow | 27 | Mitochondria |
| Fri Apr 29 | Exam II | 28 | Take home exam (Pick up on Friday, return on Mon, 11 a.m.) |
| Tues May 1 | No class, exams will be returned by Thursday | ||
| Fri May 6 | Kelly, Onal, Porter, MacMillan-Crow | 29 | Exam discussion |
| Tues May 10 | All instructors | 30 | Course evaluation. Grades are due for all sections. |