Cell Biology (CELLBIO)
Professor Hogan, Chair; Professor Wright, Chief, Division of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics; Associate Professor Nicchitta, Director of Graduate Studies; Professors Agre, Bennett, C. Bonaventura, J. Bonaventura, Capel Caron, Endow, Erickson, McIntosh, Reedy; Associate Professors Corless, Klingensmith, Schachat, Schomberg, Vigna; Assistant Professors Lechler, Poss, Soderling, Wang, Zhu; Associate Research Professors Barak, Jakoi, Gainetdinov, Le Furgey, Oliver; Assistant Research Professor Carbrey, Chadwick, Ramsey, and Williams
The Department of Cell Biology offers graduate training in cell biology, development, and physiology leading to the PhD degree. Molecular cell biology research interests include transmembrane receptors, molecular mechanisms of signal transduction, cytoskeleton, cell motility and cell polarity, mechanisms of contraction and vesicle transport, protein secretion and trafficking mechanisms, and biophysics of cell membrane bilayers. A substantial number of the cell biology faculty address cell biology in the context of developing organisms such as mouse and zebrafish. Developmental interests include germ cells and stem cells, neuronal specification and pathfinding, sex determination, development of the gonad, lung, heart, head and neural tube, and appendage and heart regeneration. Specific interests in cellular, organ, and systemic physiology include neuro-muscular junctions, the cellular basis of addiction and innate immunity, as well as heart, lung, gut, muscle, and reproductive organ function. The department has excellent facilities, including a state-of-the-art confocal microscopy suite with time-lapse live cell video imaging, phosphor autoradiography, four-color fluorescent scanning/multiplexing, zebrafish facility, mouse genetics, and micromanipulation..
The Department of Cell Biology participates in several university-wide interdisciplinary training programs, including genetics, cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, cancer biology, biomedical engineering, and toxicology. Admission to graduate training in cell biology is through one of these interdisciplinary programs. For more information, contact the director of graduate studies.
200. Cell and Tissue Biology. This is the introductory medical school and graduate course in microscopic anatomy. Students participate in lectures and laboratories on the structure and function of cells and tissues of the body. The courses provides practical experience in the use of the light microscope analyzing an extensive slide collection of mammalian tissues. 3 credits. McIntosh and staff. 3 units.
201. Microscopic Anatomy. Histology of all major organs of the body. Structure and cell biology at both the level of the light and electron microscope. 3 credits. McIntosh and staff. 3 units.
202. Medical Physiology. Medical and graduate level course on organ and cell physiology. Human and medical aspects are stressed. 4 credits. Anderson and staff. 4 units.
203. Introduction to Physiology. Modern organ physiology; cellular physiology, organ system physiology including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal gastrointestinal, endocrine, reproductive, muscle and nervous. Mini course. Prerequisite: elementary biology. Instructors: Jakoi and Vigna. 3 units.
206. Physiology and Medicine of Extreme Environments. Advanced topics in the physiology and medicine of ambient pressure, immersion, gravity, temperature, and gas composition. Environments include diving and hyperbaric medicine; hot/cold terrestrial and water operations; microgravity and high-g acceleration; high altitude. Examines basic mechanisms and medical management of associated diseases including decompression sickness; altitude sickness; hypothermia and hyperthermia; hypoxia; carbon monoxide poisoning; oxygen toxicity. Laboratory optional. Prerequisites: human anatomy and physiology; diving techniques, equipment, and procedures; diving physiology, dysbaric diseases, and treatments. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.
208. Stem Cell Biology Minicourse. 2 units. C-L: see Molecular Cancer Biology 208
210. Research Independent Study. Individual Research in a field of special interest under the supervision of a faculty member, the central goal of which is a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation of a previously approved topic. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit. C-L: Marine Sciences
212. Topics in Reproductive Biology. An in-depth, integrative study of male and female reproduction, including (i) hypothalamic, pituitary, and gonadal control mechanisms, (ii) gamete structure and development, (iii) fertilization, and (iv) pregnancy and parturition. Guest lectures will emphasize the interface between basic, veterinary, and medical sciences. Prerequisite: Cell Biology 269 or equivalent. Instructor: N. Anderson, Saling, Schomberg, or Tyrey. 3 units.
241. Cell Biological Processes. This course is a graduate level introduction to the molecular mechanisms that underlie cellular processes and the experimental techniques used in cell biological research. The lectures will address the processes that cells use to organize themselves into tissues and organs, communicate through second messengers, generate specialized compartments for protein segregation, process information, move and differentiate will be addressed. Minicourse, 1st half-semester. Instructor: Schachat. 2 units.
243. Respiratory Proteins and the Environment. Structure, function and evolution of copper and iron based respiratory proteins in response to environmental oxygen levels and physiological needs. Lectures and readings on the balance between pathways for metabolic oxygen utilization and alternative disease-causing pathways involving oxidative and nitrosative reactions. Interactive molecular graphics and student presentations supplement text and lectures. Covers molecular adaptations, circulation, allostery, reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, gene expression, blood pathogens, malaria, sickle cell anemia. (Given at Beaufort) Instructor: C. Bonaventura. 3 units. C-L: Environment 243, Marine Sciences
258. Structural Biochemistry I. 2 units. C-L: see Biochemistry 258; also C-L: Cell and Molecular Biology 258, University Program in Genetics 258, Immunology 258, Structural Biology and Biophysics 258, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics 258
259. Structural Biochemistry II. 2 units. C-L: see Biochemistry 259; also C-L: Immunology 259, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics 259, Structural Biology and Biophysics 259, University Program in Genetics 259
268. Biochemical Genetics II: From RNA to Protein. 2 units. C-L: see Biochemistry 268; also C-L: Immunology 268, University Program in Genetics 268
280. Student Seminar. Preparation and presentation of seminars to students and faculty on topics of broad interest to cell biology and physiology. Required of Department of Cell Biology students. Instructor: Staff. 1 unit.
282. Mechanisms of Development/Developmental Genetics. Half-semester minicourse targeted to first-year graduate students in the Biological Sciences. Taught sequentially in the Fall semester with Biology 283. Introduces basic concepts of cell specification, morphogenesis, induction, and other mechanisms that enable cells, tissues and organs to assemble the animal. Emphasis is on model organisms, mainly Drosophila, C. elegans, mouse, and zebrafish, where genomics, mutations, gene modifiers, epistasis analyses, gene knockouts, and transgenesis, plus many other genetic approaches have yielded important insights into the differentiation of cells and the development of complex organisms. Cross-listed with Biology 282. Instructors: Fehon, Kirby, Klingensmith, McClay, and Wharton. 2 units. C-L: Biology 282
283. Developmental Genetics. Half-semester mini-course targeted to first year graduate students in the Biological Sciences. Taught sequentially in the Fall semester with Biology 282. Focuses on genetic approaches to solve mechanistic problems of development. Emphasis is on model organisms, mainly Drosophilia, C. elegans, mouse and zebrafish, where genomics, mutations, gene modifiers, epistasis analysis, gene knockouts, and transgenesis, plus many other genetic approaches have yielded important insights into the differentiation of cell and the development of complex organisms. Cross-listed with Biology 283. Instructors: Fehon, Kirby, Klingensmith, McClay and Wharton. 2 units. C-L: Biology 283
296. Developmental Biology Colloquium. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.
301. Human Structure & Function. Core course of preclinical curriculum presents scientific principles underlying structure and function of the normal human body. Focuses on gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy, and physiology of nine organ systems providing the foundation for the practice of medicine. Registration of non-Pathologist's Assistant students requires permission of Course Director. Instructor: Jakoi and Staff. 12 units.
312. Research. Specific areas of investigation include: membrane structure; extracellular matrix; cell adhesion; cell motility; cytoskeletal elements; chromosome structure and movement; genetics and molecular biology of contractile proteins; muscle ultrastructure; gamete biology; molecular and structural biology of photoreceptors; hormone receptors; cell growth; developmental biology; membrane transport and electrophysiology; metabolism; cardiovascular physiology; microcirculation; hyperbaric physiology; and theoretical studies and computer modeling of physiological processes. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.
320. Research Problems in Cell Biology. Coverage of selected topics important in current cell biology research. Format includes faculty lectures and directed readings of current research papers presented and discussed by students. Instructor: Hogan and staff. 3 units.
346. The Mouse as a Model Organism. Graduate level introduction to the mouse as a model system. Course will cover embryology, genetics, and molecular manipulation of the mouse embryo. Suitable for students who plan to focus on mouse development and for those who plan to use the mouse to address a biological problem. Minicourse 2nd half-semester. Instructor: Capel. 2 units. C-L: University Program in Genetics 346
417. Cellular Signaling. Mechanism of action of hormones at the cellular level including hormone-receptor interactions, secondary messenger systems for hormones, mechanisms of regulation of hormone responsiveness, regulation of growth, differentiation and proliferation, mechanisms of transport and ion channels, stimulus sensing and transduction. Some lectures stress the clinical correlation of the basic course concepts. Instructor: Caron, Casey, Means, and invited lecturers. 3 units. C-L: Biochemistry 417, Molecular Cancer Biology 417, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology 417
