5 ECTS credits
125 u studietijd

Aanbieding 1 met studiegidsnummer 4012689ENR voor alle studenten in het 2e semester met een verdiepend master niveau.

Semester
2e semester
Inschrijving onder examencontract
Niet mogelijk
Beoordelingsvoet
Beoordeling (0 tot 20)
2e zittijd mogelijk
Ja
Inschrijvingsvereisten
Je hebt ‘Biochemie’ gevolgd, alvorens ‘Regulatie van cellulaire processen’ op te nemen. 'Regulatie van cellulaire processen’ opnemen houdt in dat je gelijktijdig ‘Proteïnechemie: functie en structuur’ volgt of reeds geslaagd bent voor ‘Proteïnechemie: functie en structuur’.
Onderwijstaal
Engels
Faculteit
Faculteit Wetenschappen en Bio-ingenieurswetensch.
Verantwoordelijke vakgroep
Bio-ingenieurswetenschappen
Onderwijsteam
Eva Hadadi (titularis)
Onderdelen en contacturen
26 contacturen Hoorcollege
26 contacturen Werkcolleges, practica en oefeningen
Inhoud

Part 1:
Protein maturation and trafficking are essential processes that ultimately determine life at cellular level. Good functioning of these processes is a prerequisite for cells and organisms to survive, to adapt to ever-changing conditions in a flexible way and to defend themselves against attacks from the outer world.
In order to be able to understand life, it is a prerequisite to investigate the properties of the cellular environment into which enzymes and other proteins operate. Therefore, this course deals first with the cytoskeleton and the properties of the different elements belonging to this intricate structural network are discussed.
In the next chapter, emphasis is put on the association of proteins to form heterologous protein-protein aggregates. Such interactions are essential not only for the regulation of metabolic pathways (which relies on the formation of metabolons and channeling of metabolites) but for virtually every process taking place in a living cell/organism (e.g. in transcription and translation, signal transduction, in the immune system, during apoptosis, etc..).
The next chapter deals with protein trafficking. It is indeed essential for a cell that newly synthesized proteins are directed towards their correct final destination. Transport of proteins following the general export route via the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus is discussed. In close connection to this issue we look into the different types of protein glycosylation. These co-/post-translational modifications take place when newly synthesized proteins are transported through the ER and the Golgi complex. Next we discuss the import of newly synthesized proteins into eukaryotic subcellular organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, peroxisomes, the nucleus and lysosomes.
Another chapter deals with folding of proteins in the cell. An overview is given of PDIs and PPIases, and of different chaperones and chaperonins that are essential molecules for the in vivo folding of proteins towards their correct three-dimensional structure. Recent structural information on these molecules and on their action is given.
Finally a last chapter describes post-translational modifications (glycosylation, ubiquitination, phosphorylation, nitrosylation, methylation, N-acetylation and lipidation) and their functional importance.  As an example the protein degradation process will be highlighted in details: We discuss on the structure and the action of the proteasome, which is an essential machinery involved in eukaryotic protein degradation. Attention is paid to the role of ubiquitin in this and in other cellular processes.

Part 2:
An important cellular process is the communication of the cells with the ‘outside world’ by which they can adapt to changing circumstances. With this respect plasma membrane receptors are key players. They are proteins that have a double function; recognition of neurotransmitters or hormones (denoted as chemical mediators) as well as translation of their binding into a cellular effect. This part comprises the following chapters:

  1. Chemical mediators and their receptors : definitions
  2. Classification of receptors (on basis of structure/function)
    In these two chapters of this part these endogenous chemical mediators are divided according to their mode of transmission (hormones, neurotransmittors) and according to their hydrophobicity (hydrophobic hormones which pass the cell membrane/ hydrophilic/large signalling molecules whose receptors are at the outside of the plasma membrane). These latter receptors are divided in the ways they trigger the cell response (activation of G proteins, endogenous phosphorylation, opening of ion channels).
  3. Ligand-gated ion channels
    This chapter deals with ligand mediated ion channels. With two typical examples the action mechanism of these receptor is explained. It concerns nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that operate the opening of sodium channels involved in the contraction of skeletal muscles and the glutamate and GABA mediated ion channels that are involved in rapid signal transduction in neurons.
  4. G-protein coupled receptors
    This chapter deals with G-protein coupled receptors. They represent a large family of plasma membrane receptors that are involved in a very broad range of (patho)-physiological processes. It is therefore not surprising that about 50 % of all commercial drugs act via modulation of these receptors. In this chapter their general mechanism of signal transduction is explained as well as their classification on basis of their structure/amino acid sequence.
  5. Growth factor receptors
    The next category of receptors are the growth factor or tyrosin kinase receptors. The binding of their ligands i.e. growth factors activates their intrinsic property of endogenous phosphorylation. As their name indicates, the binding of these ligands are involved in the regulation of cell growth and division.
  6. Steroïd receptors
    The last category of receptors are located intracellularly. They mainly recognize steroid hormones, which are apolar mediators that are able to cross the plasma membrane barrier.
  7. Methodology :  Analysing proteins & protein-protein interactions - classical and high throughput assays
    We will discuss assays including co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assays, western blotting, mass spectrometry or sequencing based approaches.
  8. Methodology : Analysing proteins & protein-protein interactions - imaging techniques (in vivo and in vitro approaches)
  9. Methodology :  Analysing proteins & protein-protein interactions - novel technologies
  10. Role of proteins in diseases:

We will discuss about (1) misfolding & aggregation related diseases, (2) the role of histone modifications & other post-translational modifications, and (3) enzyme deficiencies. Pharmacological classification of receptors will be shortly covered.

Practical
During the practical we will perform measurements to detect post-translational modifications and/or signal transduction using classical techniques including flow cytometry or western blot.
 

 

Studiemateriaal
Digitaal cursusmateriaal (Vereist) : Figuren en schema's die bij de cursus behoren (powerpoint presentatie) worden aan de studenten verstrekt.
Bijkomende info

Participation to the practicals is mandatory.

Leerresultaten

General competencies

To provide the student insight in the domain of Molecular Pharmacology. The acquired knowledge during this course is useful in a research-oriented career. It provides the bio-engineers the basic knowledge to perform pre-clinical research and to function within multi-disciplinary teams in the pharmaceutical industry.

This course aims to analyze various processes taking place within the living cell.
Students will:
-be able to describe the structural organization of the intracellular components of the cytoskeleton and its associating proteins.
-know and understand the properties of the intracellular environment.
-know and understand the advantages of heterologous protein-protein interactions and of metabolite channeling.
-be able to explain the problem of protein trafficking in the cell in all its aspects.
-know and understand the process of protein folding in the cell.
-be able to describe the process of protein degradation in the cell.
-know and understand the different functions of the protein ubiquitin and of ubiquitin-like molecules.
-be able to make an analysis of different technologies that are used in these domains of research.

 

Beoordelingsinformatie

De beoordeling bestaat uit volgende opdrachtcategorieën:
Examen Schriftelijk bepaalt 75% van het eindcijfer

WPO Praktijkopdracht bepaalt 25% van het eindcijfer

Binnen de categorie Examen Schriftelijk dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

  • Deel 1 met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 75% van het totale eindcijfer.

    Toelichting: Mondeling examen omvattende de bespreking van een vooraf aangeduid artikel.

Binnen de categorie WPO Praktijkopdracht dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

  • Deel 2 met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 25% van het totale eindcijfer.

    Toelichting: Mondeling: (A) Presentatie en bespreking van een wetenschappelijk artikel. (B) Algemene ondervraging over de besproken leerstof.
    A. Presentatie en bespreking van een wetenschappelijk artikel
    B. Algemene ondervraging over de besproken leerstof.

Aanvullende info mbt evaluatie

Exam:
Written exam: 3hrs, the test contains multiple choice questions, 2 open questions on the general topic and 4 problem solving technical questions.

Evaluation:
Grade = ¾ written exam, ¼ practical
Attendance of the practical is obligatory! After the practicum the students need to submit a written report in which the following items are included: introduction, aim, used techniques, analysis and discussion of the results and conclusion(s). 
 

Toegestane onvoldoende
Kijk in het aanvullend OER van je faculteit na of een toegestane onvoldoende mogelijk is voor dit opleidingsonderdeel.

Academische context

Deze aanbieding maakt deel uit van de volgende studieplannen:
Master in de bio-ingenieurswetenschappen: cel- en genbiotechnologie: moleculaire biotechnologie