Cell Signaling and Transduction

The cells communicate between them via an enormous variety of extracellular chemical signals. The aim of the course is to describe the structural and biochemical properties of signalling molecules and their regulation, the interaction of signalling proteins of the various levels of signal transduction, to work out the basic principles of cellular communication and describe the interplay of various signalling pathways in central cellular processes like cell cycle regulation, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. The course concentrates on signalling and regulation in animal systems. Plant systems could not be considered and results from lower eukaryotes and prokaryotes are only cited if they are of exemplary character.

Objectives

The aim of the course is to describe the structural and biochemical properties of signalling molecules and their regulation, the interaction of signalling proteins of the various levels of signal transduction, to work out the basic principles of cellular communication and describe the interplay of various signalling pathways in central cellular processes like cell cycle regulation, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. The course concentrates on signalling and regulation in animal systems. Plant systems could not be considered and results from lower eukaryotes and prokaryotes are only cited if they are of exemplary character.

Prerequisites

None

Syllabus

GENERAL FUNCTION OF SIGNALLING PATHWAYS. SIGNALLING VIA GAPJUNCTIONS AND NOTCH RECEPTORS. SIGNALLING VIA EXTRA CELLULAR SIGNALLING MOLECULES: TYPES - MODES OF ACTION - INTERACTIONS BETWEEN HORMONE AND RECEPTOR. G PROTEIN COUPLED SIGNAL TRANSMISSION PATHWAYS. INTRACELLULAR MESSENGER SUBSTANCES (cAMP, IP3, DAG, Ca2+, cGMP). ION CHANNEL-COUPLED RECEPTORS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION. SIGNAL TRANSMISSION VIA TRANSMEMBRANE RECEPTORS WITH TYROSINE-SPECIFIC PROTEIN KINASE ACTIVITY. THE ROLE OF Ras PROTEINS IN SIGNAL TRANSMISSION. THE PROTEIN CASCADES OF THE MAP KINASE PATHWAYS. TRANSDUCTION VIA MEMBRANE RECEPTORS WITH ASSOCIATED TYROSINE KINASE ACTIVITY. TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS STAT AND SIGNAL TRANSMISSION IN THE NUCLEUS. SIGNALLING BY NUCLEAR RECEPTORS. MALFUNCTION OF SIGNALLING PATHWAYS AND TUMORIGENESIS. APOPTOSIS.