Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module BIOL4041: CELL SIGNALS AND PROTEIN TARGETTING (MSCI)

Department: BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

BIOL4041: CELL SIGNALS AND PROTEIN TARGETTING (MSCI)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2005/06 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to FGC0

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To promote an appreciation of the molecular events in occurring in cells upon receipt of an external signal.
  • To appreciate how proteins are targeted to different organelles and how these targeting events respond to cell signals.

Content

  • The secretory pathway.
  • Lysosomes, Vesicles.
  • Coatomers.
  • Clathrin.
  • Genetics of secretion.
  • Mitochondria.
  • Peroxisomes.
  • Nuclear import.
  • Targeting of proteins to plastids.
  • Brief review of structure and function of important signalling molecules including hormones, receptor, G proteins and effector enzymes.
  • cAMP, 1,2 - diacylglycerol, inositol phosphates and Ca2+.
  • Ras other small GTPases.
  • MAP Kinase pathways.
  • Oncogenes.
  • Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.
  • Regulation of Inositol Kinases, roles of PIP2 and PIP3.
  • Plant cell Signals: Introduction to plant signalling mechanics.
  • Light in plant development.
  • mechanisms of hormone action.
  • diversity of action and the 'new' plant hormones.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students should be able to: Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the molecular events involved in cell signalling.
  • demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the molecular events involved in protein targeting.
  • understand that these processes are linked and form part of the homeostasis of the cell.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • be able to design an experimental strategy to investigate an aspect of cell signalling or protein targeting.
Key Skills:
  • extract, compile and review relevant scientific information from various sources and evaluate them critically.
  • acquire, interpret and critically analyse experimental and clinical data and present the results effectively.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • MCQs are appropriate as a revision aid and to demonstrate knowledge acquisition.
  • The data handling exercise will show the ability to interpret data and develop presentation skills.
  • The integration of these skills will be assessed in the written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 23 1-2/week 1 hour 23
Tutorials 1 1 hour 1
Seminars 2 1 hour 2
Poster 6 6 hours 36
Preparation and Reading 138
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Formal Examination Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
2-hour formal examination 100%
Component: Presentation Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
poster presentation 100%
Component: Exercise Component Weighting: 10%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
data handling exercise 100%

Formative Assessment:

MCQ.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University