Unit information: Organisation and Communication in Cells in 2014/15

Unit name	Organisation and Communication in Cells
Unit code	BIOC20201
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Jo Adams
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	BIOC10100
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Biochemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The unit will develop material introduced in the Level C/4 unit, Biochemistry 1G, and cover the structure of proteins and how they are studied experimentally, how the cell is organised at a molecular level and the intracellular signalling pathways used by cells in response to hormonal stimulation. The teaching in the unit is delivered through lectures and is supported by practical sessions, problems workshops, and directed-self education.

The unit aims to develop an understanding the following areas:

Element 1. Cellular Organisation I

" Techniques used in imaging cells

" The structure of membrane proteins

" Intracellular membrane organisation

" Glycosylation

" The secretory and endosomal pathways

" Intracellular protein degradation

Element 2. Cellular Signalling

" How proteins are purified and studied using biophysical techniques

" Protein-ligand interactions

" Signalling through small G-proteins

" The role of phospholipids and calcium in cell signalling

" The role of protein kinases

The units aims to develop the following skills:

" Competency in a number of biochemical techniques in the practical laboratory

" Numeracy and the ability to complete calculations based on protein-ligand interactions and enzyme kinetics

" The ability to research and present a defined area of Biochemistry in written form.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge and understanding proteins and how they are studied.

2. Knowledge and understanding of cellular organisation and the trafficking pathways in cells.

3. Knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved intracellular signalling by hormones.

4. The ability to perform biochemical calculations based on enzyme kinetics and ligand binding.

5. Knowledge and understanding of the techniques used in the practical sessions.

6. The ability to research a specific biochemical topic using textbooks and the scientific literature and to present their findings in a written format.

Teaching Information

Lectures

Problems workshops

Practicals

Assessment Information

The overall mark for the unit will be determined as follows:

• Assessed essay (1500 word limit) (10%)

• Practicals (written laboratory reports) (10%)

• 3 hour summative end of unit examination consisting MCQs, calculation questions and essays (80%)

• Opportunities for formative feedback will be available on the practical reports, assessed essays and workshop material.

• Learning outcomes 1-3 will primarily assessed through the 3 hour summative assessment.

• Learning outcome 4 will be assessed in the summative examination, written laboratory reports and workshop homework.

• Learning outcome 5 will be assessed through the written laboratory reports.

• Learning outcome 6 will be assessed through the assessed essay.

• Students achieving an overall mark for the unit between 30 and 39% will be awarded credit points if they satisfy both of the following criteria:

• The student must have a satisfactory attendance record for the practicals and workshops and have completed all course work associated with these sessions.

• The student must have satisfactorily completed the assessed essay and submitted it by the appropriate deadline.

Reading and References

Recommended reading includes the most recent editions of:

" Alberts et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Science

" Voet & Voet, Biochemistry, Wiley

" Lodish et al, Molecular Cell Biology, Freeman

" Berg et al, Biochemistry, Freeman

" Hardie, Biochemical Messengers, Chapman & Hall

" Creighton, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Properties, Freeman Students will also be expected to read a number of relevant review articles in the scientific literature.