The Inner Workings of Cells, Winter 2008: Recent Episodes
Ken Kaplan
Cellular function lies at the root of all complex and simple biological systems. This course will expose you to the fundamental mechanisms that allow cells to maintain the system of proteins and biomolecules required for them to replicate with high fidelity, to maintain stable functional states, to differentiate in response to external cues and to ultimately form complex organizations of cells (i.e., tissues). We will apply an experimental approach to a classic problem in cell biology. We will master “blackboard” experimental techniques to allow us to explore the remarkable transformation of a monolayer of cells after being “wounded.” Under such conditions, cells surrounding the wound change their organization and programming in order to migrate, divide, and differentiate to fill in the wound.
Review for Final Exam: This class covers all topics discussed in the course, with an emphasis on cell signaling.
Lecture 28: The instructor reviews some major pathways dealing with signal transduction and an application of principles learned to cancerous cells.
Lecture 27: Kaplan continues his discussion of signal transduction, the role of signals in cell migration, and the ability of cells to see which direction to move.
Lecture 26: Kaplan talks about properties of signaling modules and different kinds of membrane receptors that interpret signals from outside the cell.
Lecture 25: This class is a wrap-up of cell division and checkpoints in the regulatory cycle, and introduction to how cells interpret various biochemical signals.
Lecture 24: Students learn more about cell division, and introduction to cell checkpoints along the regulatory cycle.
Review for Midterm 2: This covers protein trafficking, the cytoskeleton and cell division.
Lecture 22: This is a continued discussion of the regulation of cell division -- how mitosis is coordinated within the cell.
Lecture 21: The stages of the cell cycle, the regulatory cycle, and biochemical switches involved in these two cycles are covered.
Lecture 20: Kaplan wraps up of the cytoskeleton, relation of microtubles to cell motility, introduction to cell division.
Lecture 19: In this class, microtubule dynamics and stability and how these aspects of microtubules are controlled to produce energy and force for processes such as mitosis.
Lecture 18: In a continued discussion of intermediate filaments, Kaplan talks about their relation to other cytoskeletal filaments and microtubule dynamics.
Lecture 17: This class covers actin polymerization, and an introduction to other parts of the cytoskeleton, such as the intermediate filaments.
Lecture 16: Kaplan continues talking about actin, how it can lead to cell motility, as well as how it and other filament dynamics are regulated within the cell.
Lecture 15: Kaplan discusses how cytoskeletal elements of a cell are involved in cell movement, such as actin.
Review for Midterm 1: This class covers cell biology techniques, cell compartmentalization, cell membranes, the secretory pathway and protein trafficking.
Lecture 12: Kaplan gives an in-depth discussion of in-vitro coupled translation and translocation.
Lecture 11: Kaplan reviews glycosylation and gives an in-depth look at the work done to understand protein translocation and examples of protein trafficking.
Lecture 10: In this continued discussion on protein translocation, Kaplan gives emphasis to glycosylation and the Scavenger pathway.
Lecture 09: Kaplan discusses the secretory pathway, with emphasis on protein targeting and translocation.
Lecture 08: Kaplan talks about how various proteins are directed to certain areas within the cell and to the plasma membrane.
Lecture 07: Kaplan discusses the various classes of membrane proteins and movement of molecules across the membrane.
Lecture 06: This is a continued discussion of cellular membranes and their various functions in biochemical reactions.
Lecture 05: This class wraps up of tools to study complex cellular behavior (including microscopy), and introduces membrane proteins.
Lecture 04: How to use subcellular fractionation and other techniques to study complex cellular processes and molecules.
Lecture 03: This class reviews what characteristics a gene needs to be "necessary and sufficient." A discussion of antibodies and their application to various techniques of cell biologists.
Lecture 02: Goals of cell biologists and the overall course plan are discussed and students introduced to the question of how to study cells.
Lecture 01: Kaplan discusses class mechanics, student questions and the central questions of cell biology.