BBS2004, Cell signalling
Given lectures during course
EXAM: 1st April 2021 (In the MECC)
,Lecture 1, Course opening
Johan Renes
What is this course about?
The human body consists of organs, which talk to each other. Each organ consists of different
cells, which talk to each other. Even inside a cell there is no silence, hence there is talking.
→ Understanding underlying mechanisms of cellular communication in homeostasis
and diseases.
This course is organized around six main themes
1. Cellular communication routes → how do cells ‘talk’ to each other?
2. Cell-derived molecules as signaling mediators → what type of signaling molecules does
a cell have? How are they secreted? How do they work?
3. Cellular responses to external signals → how are external signals transduced to the
internal cellular space? What are short/long term effects of different exposures?
Dynamics of cell signaling; convergent/divergent signaling pathways.
4. Cellular responses to internal signals: effect of oxidative stress on cell signaling? Role
of mTOR in integration of signaling pathways?
5. Recent biotechnology technique in cell signaling research → four different recent
biotechnology tools in cell signaling? What is the technology about? How can you apply
this in research?
6. Altered cell signaling and diseases → application of knowledge to solve a disease in
relation to cell signaling, cell signaling defects in cancer
Teaching and Learning activities (TLA’S)
8 weeks course:
- 12 cases, 13 tutorial meetings
- 8 lectures (+ course opening)
- 5 journal clubs
- 3 practicals (2 lab practical’s, 1 computer practical)
- Presentations (case 10 and case 11)
- Academic project → making a concept map integrating obtained knowledge during the
course → making a concept map assignment report (case 11)
- Writing a peer review report (case 11)
- Sophia activities
Journal clubs
- 5 articles are discussed, 1 per session
- Articles are content-wise chosen
- Discussion in PBL-like session, with tutor
- Knowledge how to judge a paper learned during BBS1006
- Discussions according to a dedicated scheme, focused on content
- Contents of articles can be part of course exam
Concept map, Academic Project
‘A complete cell signaling concept map is just like an orchestra’
➢ Start with making the concept map in the first week!
➢ Advice: use mind-map software, if necessary: check:
➢ Concept map benefits: detailed overview of cell signaling pathways (course exam and
later!)
, ➢ Insight in integration of cell signaling pathways
➢ Required for Concept map assignment report and presentation
➢ Concept map assignment (case 11) : given a disease with a cell signaling defect. Find
out the signling defect, use your concept map to visualize this
Concept map assignment report
➢ Work in groups of 2-3 students
➢ Find out what the cell signaling defect is of the disease (per tutorial 4 different diseases)
➢ Use your concept map for this
➢ Provide a research plan how to investigate the cell signaling defect. Integrate previous
knowledge of case 10
➢ Write a report and give a presentation
Peer review report
- Each student writes a peer review report about one of the assignment reports
- Each assignment report is reviewed by at least 2 students
- Peer reviews report itself is scored
- Average of peer review reports is taken as advice by tutor assessment of Assignment
report
Requirements to pass
a) Sufficient score (>5.5 before rounding) for the course exam (~60-65 mixed question
types: MCQ’s, short answer questions, matching questions etc.)
b) Sufficient score (a pass or mark >5.5) for the concept map assignment report
c) Sufficient score (a pass or mark >5.5) for the concept map peer review report
d) 100% attendance in practical trainings
e) at least 75% presence at tutorials and journal clubs, with active participation
A surprise with a win-win
- Request for exam questions for practicing
- Intermediate formative exam with practicing, 60-70 questions
o 2 exams, one with only MCQ’s, one with mixed questions
o Scoring results are for your information and for me to do research on
- Scheduled on March 17th, 2020, 9:30 online
- To join: sign the informed consent form on Canvas!
, Lecture 2, cellular communication
Johan Renes
Contents
- How is direct cell-cell contact organized?
o Anchoring junctions, tight junctions, gap junctions
- How can a cell signal itself?
- How can signals be passed to neighbor cells?
- How can cells communicate in short distance?
- How do cells communicate over long distances?
→ Cell-cell connections are essential
o Epithelial cells of the skin > reshaping, flexibility, barrier
o Epithelial cells of the gut > barrier function, flexibility
o Muscle cells > movement, strength
o Cardiomyocytes > heart function
→ No cell-cell contact > no life
Anchoring junctions
→ extracellular matrix with basal lamina and on top of that, epithelial cells. Epithelial cells are
connected with tight junctions.
