This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module BIOL3341: CELL SIGNALS AND PROTEIN TARGETING (LIT)

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3341: CELL SIGNALS AND PROTEIN TARGETING (LIT)

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	20	Available in 2006/2007	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Molecular Biology BIOL2201, Cell Structure and Function BIOL2211.

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To promote an appreciation of the molecular events 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.
To conduct an investigation of an area within Biological Sciences where knowledge obtained by laboratory experimentation or literature search is important.

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 mechanisms.
light in plant development.
mechanisms of hormone action.
diversity of action and the 'new' plant hormones.
Project - a supervised investigation of an area within Biological Sciences where knowledge obtained by laboratory experimentation or database information retrieval and analysis is important.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

By the end of this module each student 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

Key Skills

Extract, compile and review relevant scientific information from various so and field data and present the results effectively.

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

Taught Component: Teaching and learning in this component is primarily through the means of lectures.
Knowledge will be formatively assessed through the use of MCQs and summatively by a written examination.
Interpretation of data will be summatively assessed by means of a data handling exercise.
Understanding will be assessed by means of a written examination.
Project Component: Teaching and learning in this component is primarily through supervised and directed literature search.
Skills will be acquired through the searching, retrieval and presentation of relevant data.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Lectures	23	1 or 2 per week	1 hour	23
Tutorials	1		1 hour	1
Seminars	2		1 hour	2
Other (Project)	6		6 hours	36
Preparation and Reading				138
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting
Examination	50%	Formal Examination	2 hours	100%
Data Handling Exercise	10%	Data Handling Exercise		100%
Literature Search Report	40%	Literature Search Report		100%

Formative Assessment

MCQs to assess knowledge

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.