Bob Ridge, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan

LECTURE NOTES

Cell Dynamics
LECTURE NOTES

Cell Biology
Cell Dynamics
Plant Development
Foundation Biology
Life Science

6th Edition

5th Edition

Textbook: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, Alberts et al., 2014, 6th Edition.
I will use the 6th Edition in class.
However, if you already have the 5th Edition it is OK to use, but I nevertheless strongly recommend you to buy the 6th edition.

This course covers the three basic components of the cytoskeleton: microtubules, microfilaments, and (briefly) intermediate filaments. I introduce their structure, their dynamics, and their roles in animal and plant cells. There is emphasis on whole cell movement. There is a large section on cell division (mitosis only).

Course covers Chapters 16 & 17. You are also expected to read the Methods Chapters 8 & 9.

Students who register should have a C grade pass or higher in "Basic Concepts of Cell Biology" : anyone who achieved a D or worse will be unable to cope with Cell Dynamics. Good attendance to classes and submission of all assignments on time is required.

Assessment. 2015: Large assignment: 20%; 8 weekly assignments @ 4% each: 32%; Mid-term test: 15%; Final exam: 33%.

NOTES ON LARGE ASSIGNMENTS: The topics should be pre-approved. A minimum of 10 A4 sides (5 sheets of paper double-sided). The assignment should be well-illustrated to explain the topic. Any illustrations or text from sources should be properly quoted and referenced, including information from the internet. Use a computer and a printout, handwritten work is not acceptable.

CONTACT : rwr [at] icu.ac.jp

INFORMATION DURING AUTUMN 2015 TERM :

First class Tuesday 8th September
Last class Tuesday 10th November
22nd September (Tues) is a holiday
There will be no class on the 24th September
So there will be 17 class periods

The first assignment will be distributed on Thursday 10th September 2014.

MID-TERM TEST 13th OCTOBER (Tues) TENTATIVE

Large Assignment due 10th November (last class day before exams)

ABOUT THE LARGE ASSIGNMENT:
Topic due by Thurs 29th September. You will need a tentative title and a few sentences outlining the assignment topic.

click here for HOW TO WRITE A REPORT in a PDF file
click here for HOW TO WRITE A REPORT as a Slide Show

LARGE ASSIGNMENT TOPICS

Researching diseases associated with the cytoskeleton. The significance of cytoskeletal/protein functions in cellular activity, and how mutations or a protein deficiency can cause sicknesses that affect the entire human body, how those mutations occur and how they are/can be treated

Cell dynamics in neuronal cell death 1) explanation of cytoskeleton 2) explanation of cytoskeleton in neuron cell 3) diseases related to neuron; Alzheimer's disease 4) mechanism of the neuronal cell death 5) future prospects in neuronal cell death

Keratin Mutation and EBS (Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex) Outline: - Basic structure of Human Skin - Intermediate Proteins and Keratin - EBS (cause, symptoms, how keratin is involved) - Possible treatments

Cytoskeletal dynamics in neuronal development, transmission and regeneration

Functions and intercellular movements of myosin and actin fibers within the cytoskeleton of the cell. Focus on how motor protein genes can cause and/or prevent neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, dysautonomia etc. mechanics of cytokinesis and its connection to treating neurological disorders. How these motor proteins can affect (stimulate/slow down) the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Immunological importance of microtubules. Not necessarily just in regard to cancer but the function and role of microtubules in other types of infections as well (viral for example). Also how it is involved in various immunological processes. Potential applications of such research, for example using microtubules as target molecules for new drugs

Muscle cells, especially skeletal muscle, related to microtubules. Structure of their extension. How they become multinucleated cells

Causes of cytoskeletal dysfunction which leads to the development of cancer. Abnormal cell division and the abnormal expression of cytoskeleton. Microtubule-targeted drugs in cancer treatment

Current understanding of tau protein role in neural microtubule damage, with a description of the current understanding of tau protein role in Alzheimer disease and the progressive destruction of brain neurons

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and iPS cells

Function of the cytoskeleton in neurons. Examples of neuronal disease related to the cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton and viral infection

The role of centriole in shape, transport, movement and division in the cell. Diseases concerned with the centriole. The origin of the centriole.

Lecture Notes Autumn Term 2015
(.pdfs will download to your computer)

Introduction: cell-dynamics-intro-2015

lecture notes cytoskeleton-part-1
lecture notes cytoskeleton-part-2
lecture notes cytoskeleton-part-3
lecture notes cell-division-part-1
lecture notes cell-division-part-2
lecture notes cell-division-part-3

Weekly Assignments Autumn Term 2015
(.pdfs will download to your computer)

Assignment-1 Basic Concepts
Assignment-2 Microtubules
Assignment-3 Motor proteins; axoneme
Assignment-4 Cell cycle basics
Assignment-5 Cell cycle microtubule mechanics
Assignment-6 Actin and muscle

Microtubules in Lotus root hairs (time-lapse looping movies, about 50x normal speed).
Robert W. Ridge, Valya Vassileva © 2003