21531 - Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry (C)

Learning outcomes

Major Outcomes encompass:

• Providing a molecular underpinning of signaling patterning within the context of growth factor-mediated receptor activation
• Focusing on cytosolic - nuclear trafficking and molecular dynamics at the level of the nuclear pore complex (NPC)
• Dissection of the major features in genome structure and function
• Structural and functional analysis of different families of transcription factors
• Overview of the major determinants governing cell growth and differentiation
• Assessing molecular mechanisms involved in stem cell plasticity, commitment and differentiation

Course contents

Molecular features in cell signaling networks

• Cyto-nucleoskelethon as a molecular network for transfering informations from the cytosol to the nucleus
• Cytosolic calcium homeostasis and cell signaling: IP3, IP4, mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores, Ryanodine receptors, calcium as a second messenger, cytosolic calcium oscillators ("Calcium sparks and sparklets": two novel entities in the generation of calcium-encoded signals)
• Protein kinases, substrate phosphorylation and cellular homeostasis: protein kinase C (PKC), PKC isoforms (alpha, beta, delta, epsilon, zeta). Functional PKC domains: zinc finger, pseudosubstrate, C1, C2, C3, and C4 modules.
• Akt/PKB signaling, interplay with PKC patterning
• Tyrosine Kinase Receptors, Serin-threonin Receptors, BMP signaling, SMAD kinases. SMAD4, the "common mediator of SMAD". SMAD signaling and cell growth and differentiation
• "Frizzled Receptors", Wnt signaling: "Dishevelled" a sensor for frizzled signaling, GSK3, APC, Axin, Graucho and Beta-catenin: an interplay of key molecules in cell fate patterning

 
Nuclear Architecture and Gene Expression

• Nuclear lamins, nuclear scaffold, the "nuclear Pore Complex (NPC)": Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and NPC assessment
• Molecular traffic to the nucleus: NLS, kariopherins. Ran-TC, a small GTP bindin protein acting as a mobile receptor in nuclear signaling through the NPC
• Transcription factors: Zinc Fingers, Nuclear Hormone Receptors, Leucine Zippers, Homeodomains
• Transcription factors alter genome strcture and function: implications in cel growth and differentiation.
• Histone acetylation, chromatin remodeling and epigenetic modifications

 
Functional Genomics and DNA Nanotechnologies

• Wide-ranging transcriptional profiling: new strategies to take a glimpse on gene expression and cellular homeostasis under normal and pathological conditions
• DNA microarrays
• "Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE)"
• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and transcriptional profiling: a novel use in AFM technology

Teaching methods

Continuous cross-talk and discussion within the context of each lesson

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

Power point presentation of slides and movies

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Ventura