The central aim of this seminar series is to give you an opportunity to learn about the many fascinating and intricate mechanisms that organisms have evolved to control their cellular functions and to coordinate the many macromolecular interactions carried out in different cell types. In particular, the course aims to provide an integrated understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular biology processes and of how molecules and cells are integrated into functional systems.
In the first part, the seminar series aims to introduce you to the cellular context in which biochemical reactions take place by having a tour through typical cells. By engaging with this course, you will gain foundation knowledge about the organisation of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, including extracellular matrix, cell signalling, the roles of biological membranes in compartmentalisation of cell functions and the cytoskeleton. The structure and functions of eukaryotic organelles including the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and peroxisomes. Additional topics include intracellular macromolecular transport and mechanisms of transport of ions, solutes and macromolecules across membranes including the plasma membrane.
In part II, the latest methods for studying molecules and cells in vitro and in vivo will be discussed. Recent advances in biophysical methods led to stunning new insights into the complex inner workings of cells and the interplay between their macromolecular components. Spurred by technological breakthroughs in light and electron microscopy, tomography, biophysics, structural biology, sequencing technologies, single molecule and ensemble molecule spectroscopies and cellular in situ studies, we can now investigate at unprecedented levels of spatial and temporal resolution the biomolecular and cellular processes at the origin of life.
Particular attention is given to the presentation skills of the students as a fundamental learning objective of the entire PhD programme. To this end selected topics will be presented by students in the course under the guidance of the academics contributing to this series.
Programme
Lecture Series Part I. Introducto Lectures
Overview of the Course (Alfonso De Simone)
10th Dec 9:00 am
A glimpse of the cell (Marcella Cesana)
10th Dec 9:30 - 11:30 am
Biological Dogma (Davide Cacchiarelli)
14th Dec 9:00 - 11:00 am
Protein Sciences (Alfonso De Simone)
17th Dec 14:00 - 16:00
Lecture Series Part II. Cellular Biology and Differentiation
- Not “The Cell” but many different cell types
Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells; Cellular functions (metabolism, catabolism, anabolism);
Cellular anatomy. Cellular functions of proteins
Student: Vincenzo Aievola Tutor: Russo
26th Jan 2021 14:00 - 15:00
- From genes to functions
Genes; gene structures; regulation of gene expression
Student: Valentina Brancato & Antonio De Falco Tutor: Chiusano
28th Jan 2021 14:00 - 16:00
- The cell in a multicellular environment
Signal transduction; cell-cell interactions
Student: Melania Franchini Tutor: De Simone
2nd Feb 2021 14:00 - 15:00
- From one cell to many different cell types
Cell Development & Differentiation.
Student: Antonella Sarnataro Tutor: Cacchiarelli
2nd Feb 2021 15:00 - 16:00
- Fine tuning of cellular functions
Post-translational regulation; splicing and regulation; small RNAs.
Student: Carmen Biancaniello Tutor: Cesana
4th Feb 2021 14:00 - 15:00
Lecture Series Part III. Methods in Molecular Cellular Biology - How to browse around a cell
- Molecular Biology
Recombinant Protein expression and purification
22nd Oct 2021 11:00 - 13:00
- Structural Biology
NMR
25th Oct 2021 11:00 - 13:00
- Structural Biology
X-ray crystallography
27th Oct 2021 11:00 - 13:00
- Structural Biology
cryoEM
29th Oct 2021 11:00 - 13:00
- Protein-Ligand Interactions
Experimental methods and theory
1st Nov 2021 11:00 - 13:00
- Computational Drug Discovery
3th Nov 2021 11:00 - 13:00
- Computational Drug Discovery
5th Nov 2021 11:00 - 13:00