04638 - Cellular Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of thecourse the student will acquirea general andup-to-date knowledge of the biochemical mechanisms underlying the main cellular functions, such as intracellular traffic, inter-cellular comunciations, cell proliferation and death.

Course contents

Traffic andtransport ofsecretion proteins:Roughreticulum and co-translationaltranslocation. SRPand its receptor. Structure of the protein-translocation pore SecY in the ER. Hsp70 and Hsp60 chaperons in theER. Protein glycosylationin the ER. Calnexin anc quality control.Golgi apparatus: structure,function in lipids biosynthesis and secretion protein glycosylation. Targetting of lysosomal proteins. Trasporto a mezzo di vescicole rivestite: the coatmaers: COPI, COPII andclatrin. Molecular mechanisms ofvesicle budding andfusion.

The nucleusStructure of nuclear pores.Protein importin thenucleus: NIS,importins,Ran proteins cycle. Exportof mRNAand ribosomal subunits.

Biosynthesis of organelles (mitochondria and peroxisomes).Mitochondrial genome and genetic code. Nucloids.Presequences and mechanisms for protein selection at the mitochondrial outer membrane. Protein traslocons inmitochondrial membranes(TOM, TIM23 and TIM22,Oxa 1, SAM). Mia and Erv1.Import in chloroplasts (TOC and TIC). Peroxisomes: function and biogenesis: peroxines, targeting signals Pts1/Pts2. Peroxisomes assembly: Pex3 and Pex 11. Import into the peroxisomal matrix: the importomer.

Cytoskeleton and molecular motorsOrganization of cytoskeletoncomponents.Microfilaments: structure of actin, filaments polarity, , intermediate filaments andmicrotubules. Polarity of cytoskelal elements.Motor proteinsand interactionswith cytoskeleton: myosins, kinesinsand dyneins. Molecular structuresof myosins e kinesins.

Cell-cell segnallingModes o cell-cellsegnalling.First messengers: peptidic and lipophilic hormones (steroid, thyroid, estrogen hormones,eicosanoids, etc).Intracellular receptors andnuclear targets (HRE). Membrane receptors. Seven-TM receptors. G proteins. Signal transduction insensoyy receptors (vision, olfact andhearing). The effector systemsi: adenylate cyclase, phospholipaseC, ionic channels.. The second messengers: cAMP, cGMP,DAG and IP3, calcium.Tyrosine kinase receptors: molecular organization, activation and signalling.Structure ofSH2 and SH3 domains. Structure of non-receptor tyrosine kinase(Src). Structure, activation andfunction ofRas; MAP kinases, JAK/STATand Wnt/Hedgehoge Notch.PI-3-kinase, Aktand mTOR. Betaand gamma isoforms of PLC. IP3 and intracellular calcium stores. Calmodulin andCAM kinase II.cytoskeleton and signal transduction:integrins andFAK/MAP.

Readings/Bibliography

B. Lewin: Cellule. Zanichelli 2008

C. Branden e J. Tooze, Introduzione alla Struttura delle Proteine, II Edizione, Zanichelli 2001

G.M. Cooper e R.E. Hausman, La cellula. Un approccio molecolare, Piccin, Padova, 2009

J. Berg, J.L. Tymoczko e L. Stryer, Biochimica, V Edizione, Zanichelli 2008

Teaching methods

Classroom lessons

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

Power point slides, projector, PC

Office hours

See the website of Anna Maria Ghelli