Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Cell Biology II
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Students are welcomed to consult lecturers at the end of each class. For enquiries outside of class, students can email or make an appointment by email to the course coordinator: Miquel Bosch (miquelbosch@uic.es)
Introduction
Cells act like small computers: in order to survive, they must receive information from their environment, process it, compute it, and decide the appropriate response. This course focuses on the mechanisms of intracellular signaling: we will see the processes of perception of signals coming from other cells... and we will delve deeper into the main internal information-processing routes, their mechanisms, and in their medical and pharmacological implications. The main tool that medicine has is pharmacology, which is precisely the act of "hacking" of receptors and signaling pathways. Intracellular signaling is therefore one of the most important areas of biomedical research to understand cells and to find treatments for almost all diseases.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisite course required; however, essential knowledge and concepts from previous semester courses of Cell Biology I, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are strongly recommended.
Objectives
The aim of this course is to understand the main intracellular signaling routes. The students must understand the basic principles and mechanisms of the transmission, perception and processing of information between cells and within cells; they must know the main routes or signaling pathways that exist in human cells, their associated biochemical and molecular aspects, their involvement in human metabolism and physiology, in certain pathologies, and their pharmacological relevance.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB01 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and it tends to be found at a level that, although it is based on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting-edge of their field of study.
- CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) to issue judgements that include a reflection on significant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CB04 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- CE01 - To have a comprehensive overview of the structure and function of the cell, as well as intra and extracellular communication and its regulation through the main routes of cell signalling, in developing adult individuals.
- CG01 - To be aware of basic biological concepts and language specific to biomedical sciences and health status.
- CG11 - To be aware of basic concepts from different fields connected to biomedical sciences.
- CT01 - To develop the organisational and planning skills that are suitable in each moment.
- CT02 - To develop the ability to resolve problems.
- CT03 - To develop analytical and summarising skills.
- CT04 - To interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
- CT05 - To use the internet as a means of communication and a source of information.
- CT06 - To know how to communicate, give presentations and write up scientific reports.
- CT07 - To be capable of working in a team.
- CT08 - To reason and evaluate situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
- CT09 - To have the ability to develop interpersonal skills.
- CT10 - To be capable of autonomous learning.
- CT11 - To apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
- CT12 - To apply scientific method.
- CT13 - To be aware of the general and specific aspects related to the field of nutrition and ageing.
- CT14 - To respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values that are specific to a culture of peace and democratic values.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify and summarize the key principles of cell communication.
• Apply main concepts of cell signalling to draw conclusions from research literature to case studies.
• Review the relevant literature to position the proposed study within the existing research.
• Elaborate information from scientific literature into effective and informative oral scientific presentations.
Syllabus
Lecture 1. Principles of intracelular signaling. Ligands. Receptors. Pathways.
Lecture 2. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs I). Cyclic-AMP pathway.
Lecture 3. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs II). IP3 and Ca2+ pathways.
Case Method 1. Signaling pathways - Back to the Past (research & preparation)
Lecture 4. Enzyme-linked receptors (I). Tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs). Insulin.
Case Method 2. Back to the past presentations (presentation skills session)
Lecture 5. Enzyme-linked receptors (II). Ser/Thr kinase receptors.
Lecture 6. Ionotropic receptors. Synaptic plasticity.
Lecture 7. Other signaling pathways: Notch, Wnt, TNF, Hedgehog.
Case Method 3. Signal Rewiring - The Street Fighter (interactive session)
Lecture 8. Intracellular receptors. NO. Nuclear receptors.
Case Method 4. Clonal selection and mutation - The Blade Runner (debate/role play)
Case Method 5. Tumor microenvironment: The Unusual suspects (research & preparation)
Lecture 9. Apoptosis. Intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.
Case Method 6. Interrogating the cell signaling pathways - Clue (gaming session)
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course accounts for different types of classes in order to establish a link between theoretical cellular biology and basic scientific research.
Lectures: 50-minute theoretical classes.
Case Methods: Hands-on classes. Students work on the assigned task in small groups followed by discussion in class. Cases provide a rich, contextual way to introduce new material and create opportunities for students to apply the material they have learned in the lectures.
Virtual Education: Online material that students can consult from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to self-learning concepts related to the subject.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Attendance to lectures is not compulsory. If attending, punctuality is required Attendance to the case methods is a priori not compulsory; however, not attending a class will result in a 0 (zero) score for that specific class. Therefore, in case the assistance to any given session is not possible, a justification of absence must be sent to the appropriate teacher well in advance. Attendance to laboratory classes is compulsory. In case the student cannot attend, a justification must be sent to the course coordinator and laboratory teacher well in advance. Non-justified absence means an automatic failure of the course. The exams will consist of test type questions (with 4 answer options, the correct anwer counting +1 points, the incorrect answers counting -0.3 points, and the no-answer counting 0 points). To pass the course, the student must score a minimum grade of 5.0 both in the final exam and in the total course. The course is evaluated as following:
Students in first call:
- 20% Midterm exam.
- 15% Participation and attitude in the Laboratory sessions and exam score.
- 20% Preparation, participation and attitude in the case methods. Score will be the average of each session.
- 45% Final exam.
Students in second call: will do an exam in July that will count 65% of the final grade and that will averaged with the grade of laboratory sessions (15%), and preparation of the case methods (20%) obtained in the first call. Midterm exam will not be taken into account, unless the student requests it.
Students with two or more than two deadlines: they will do the final exam of each call that will count 65% of the final grade and that will average with the laboratory sesions grade (15%), and preparation of the case methods (20%) obtained in the first announcement. Whenever they wish, the students can repeat the attendance to the laboratory practices and case methods to obtain a new grade.
Bibliography and resources
Alberts B, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th edition. Garland Science, 2015.
Alberts B. et al., Essential Cell Biology. Fourth edition (2013), or fifth edition (2018). Garland Science.
Lodish H, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th edition Macmillan Learning, 2013 (8th edition, 2016).
Alberts, B et al. Biología Molecular de la Célula. 6ª edición. Ediciones Omega 2016.
Lodish et al. Biología Celular y Molecular. 7ª edición. Editorial Médica Panamericana S.A. 2016.
Evaluation period
- E1 19/05/2025 A16 14:00h
- E2 26/06/2025 A08 11:00h