PHYSIOLOGY 8551
Course Title: Problems in Physiology III (Cellular and
Molecular Physiology)
Course: 8551
Credit hours: 3
Coordinator: Dr. Jorge D. Miranda, A-682. Tel. 758-2525 ext. 1615
Course Description:
This
course will provide students with basic concepts of cell physiology from a
molecular point of view. The main
analysis of the course is protein synthesis, sorting and targeting to different
organelles of an eukaryotic cell. In
addition, some time have been dedicated to receptor regulation and proteins
involved in cell comunication and regeneration. The material will be presented as lectures and seminar
presentation of specific recent publications.
The final goal of this course is to teach the students the molecular
basis of cell physiology and learn the approaches used to determine the role of
specific proteins and organelles.
General Objectives:
1. Describe the process of gene replication,
transcription, as well as factors that modulate gene expression.
2.
Examine the process of protein synthesis, modification and targeting.
3.
Analyze the role of cellular organelles and the process of protein sorting to
each organelle.
4.
Understand cellular mechanisms of receptor regulation by second messengers.
5.
Study cellular processes that involve cell movement, cytoskeletal proteins and
comunication between cells or cell-extracellular matrix interactions.
Teaching Methods:
Lectures
of 1.5-2 hours by professors and research paper presentation (seminar type) of
1-1.5 hours by graduate students that covers one topic per week. Resources: illustrations, slides and
hand-outs prepared by staff.
Two
partial exams will be administered with a value of 40% (each). Each exam will contain a conceptual (50%)
and an applied research oriented section (50%). The oral presentation of a recent publication (Journal club type
of seminar) are 20% of the grade (total of 100%) and will be open for general public. The
distribution of grades will be based on the following: 100-88% A, 87-78% B,
77-70% C, 69-60% D, and F for averages below 59%.
Participating Faculty:
Dr.
Jorge D. Miranda, Assist. Prof., Physiology Dept., UPR-MSC, A-682, ext. 1615
JOR_MIRANDA@rcmaca.upr.clu.edu
Dr.
Walter Silva, Assoc. Prof., Physiology Dept., UPR-MSC, A-678, ext. 1608
Dr.
Nelson Escobales, Professor & Chairman, Physiology Dept., UPR-MSC, A-681,
ext. 1612
Dra.
Sandra Peña, Assist. Prof., Biology Dept. UPR-Rio Piedras, JGD Building,
764-0000 ext. 2766
Dr.
José Rodríguez Medina, Professor & Chairman, Biochemistry Dept., UPR-MSC
Dr.
Carlos Basilio, Professor, Biochemistry Dept., UPR-MSC
Dr.
Fernando Renaud, Professor, Biology Dept., UPR-Rio Piedras, JGD 224, 764-0000
ext. 2037
Dr.
José E. Garcia Arrarás, Assoc. Prof., Biology Dept., UPR-Rio Piedras, JGD
Building, ext. 2596
Office Hours:
All
professors will be available for consultation during the week from 9:00am to
5:00pm. Please make appoitments or use
the E-Mail system.
Tentative Course Schedule:
The
class will meet from 9:00-10:30am on Tuesday and Friday in Room A-622
(Biochemistry Conference Room).
Requirements:
Registered
graduate students for this course should take the Biochemistry 8500 course and pass it with a grade of B
or higher. In addition, students from
the Physiology Department are required to attend Physiology 8541 and obtain a
satisfactory grade of A or B.
Course Specific Topics
Topic #1: Dr. Miranda (January 14
& Jan. 18, 2000)
1) Introduction to the Course:
Summary of Replication, Transcription & Translation
(Gene structure, RNA
processing[capping, splicing, polyadenylation], protein synthesis, posttranslational
modifications, secretion, targeting)
Topic #2: Dra. Peña (January
21 & Jan. 25, 2000)
2) Cis-Trans Regions (Promoters,
enhancers) & Transcriptional Factors (Fos, Jun)
Topic #3: Dr. Miranda (January 28
& Feb. 1, 2000)
3) Endoplasmic Reticulum: Rough
Protein synthesis &
modification, insertion in the membrane, lumen environment and chaperones
Topic #4: Dr. Miranda (February 4
& Feb. 8, 2000)
4) Golgi Apparatus
Carbohydrates
modifications, lumen environment and transport
Topic #5: Dr. Silva (February
11 & Feb. 15, 2000)
5) Vesicular Traficking
Clathrin coated vesicles
& Caveolae
Topic #6: Dr. Silva (February
18 & Feb. 22, 2000)
6) Lysosomes
Transport of proteins to
lysosomes and role of organelle
Topic #7: Dr. Basilio (February 25 &
Feb. 29, 2000)
7) Mitochondria
Transport of proteins to
outer and inner membranes, mitochondrial DNA
Topic #8: Dr. Rodríguez Medina (March 3 & March 7, 2000)
8) Nucleus
Proteins transport to
the nucleus, Cell Cycle
First Partial Exam (3-4 hours) (March 14, 2000)
Topic #9: Dr. Escobales (March 17 &
March 21, 2000)
9) Cell Surface
Biological Membranes:
Lipids (synthesis- Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum) and proteins structure and physiochemcal characteristics
Topic #10: Dr. Miranda (March 24 &
March 28, 2000)
10) Receptor Regulation: Disensitization, Down &
Up-regulation
Second
Messenger System (cAMP, Ca2+, IP3, RPTK)
Topic #11: Dr. Silva (March 31
& April 4, 2000)
11) Endocytosis: Receptor Mediated,
Phagocytosis, Pinocytosis
Topic #12: Dr. Rdz. Medina (March 7 & March
11, 2000)
12) Cytoskeleton
Microtubules (Tubulin) & Microfilaments
(Actin)
Topic #13: Dr. Renaud (March 25
& March 28, 2000)
13) Cell movement
Nonmuscle
cells (Amoeba, macrophages, growth cones)
Cilia &
Flagella (Dinein and Kinesin)
Topic #14: Dr. Miranda (May 2 &
May 5, 2000)
14) Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix
Interactions
Cell Adhesion Molecules
and Extracellular Matrix Protein-Integrin receptor association
Topic #15: Dr.
Garcia Arraras (May 9
& May 12, 2000)
15) Cell Regeneration:
neuroregeneration
Topic #16: Dr. Santacana (May 16 & May
19, 2000)
16) Heat Shock Proteins and
Ubiquitin System
Second Partial Exam (3-4 hours) May 24, 2000
Recommended Textbook:
This course will be based on recent
publication of research articles and review chapters from peer-review journals
and books. Therefore, annual reviews of
Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Immunology are good sources for
specific topic reviews.
Created by Robert A. Furilla and Updated on December 08, 1999