Cell Biology - Theory

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2024-2025

Topic

The aim of the course is to provide molecular and cellular biological basic knowledge for future biotechnological studies.

The course covers cellular and molecular characteristics of the structure and functions of the cell. Main topics: functional morphology of eukaryotic cells; mechanisms of cell cycle, replication, DNA repair, transcription, translation, gene regulation and vesicular transport. We will discuss the general structure and function of the cytoskeleton, mitochondria, cell membrane and extracellular matrix components.

Lectures

• 1. Separation methods (Centrifugation) - Pap Marianna
• 2. Separation methods (chromatography, electrophoresis) - Pap Marianna
• 3. The functional morphology of the cell, comparison of pro- and eukaryotic cells - Pap Marianna
• 4. Structure of the cell nucleus, The structure and composition of chromatin - Pap Marianna
• 5. Eukaryotic genome organization - Pap Marianna
• 6. The phases and regulation of the cell cycle - Pap Marianna
• 7. Cell division (mitosis and meiosis) - Pap Marianna
• 8. Cell division (mitosis and meiosis) - Pap Marianna
• 9. General features of DNA replication - Pap Marianna
• 10. The mechanism of DNA replication - Pap Marianna
• 11. DNA repair - Pap Marianna
• 12. Transcription and RNA processing in prokaryotic cells - Pap Marianna
• 13. Synthesis and processing of the rRNA in eukaryotic cells - Pap Marianna
• 14. Synthesis and processing of the mRNA in eukaryotic cells - Pap Marianna
• 15. Midterm test - Pap Marianna
• 16. Midterm test - Pap Marianna
• 17. The role of mRNA, tRNA and ribosomes in translation. The genetic code - Pap Marianna
• 18. Mechanism of translation - Pap Marianna
• 19. Mechanism of gene regulation in prokaryotic cells - Pap Marianna
• 20. Mechanism of gene regulation in eukaryotic cells - Pap Marianna
• 21. Functions of the endoplasmic reticulum, protein glycosylation, Vesicular transport - Pap Marianna
• 22. Cell defense mechanisms - Pap Marianna
• 23. The structure and function of mitochondria - Pap Marianna
• 24. The cytoskeleton - Pap Marianna
• 25. The cell membrane, cell-cell junctions, transport processes - Pap Marianna
• 26. The extracellular matrix - Pap Marianna
• 27. Semester test - Pap Marianna
• 28. Semester test - Pap Marianna

Practices

Seminars

Reading material

Obligatory literature

Literature developed by the Department

Lecture slides will be provided.

Notes

Recommended literature

Cooper G.M.: The Cell. A Molecular Approach

Karp G.: Cell Biology

Lodish et al.: Molecular Cell Biology

Alberts et al.: Molecular Biology of the Cell

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

None

Mid-term exams

Mid-term test and a final test.

Making up for missed classes

No possibility to make-up the lectures.

Exam topics/questions

THEORETICAL EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

1. Proteins

2. Lipids

3. Carbohydrates

4. Nucleosides, nucleotides

5. The structure of DNA

6. The structure and classes of RNA

7. Comparison of pro- and eukaryotic cells

8. The structure of cell nucleus

9. The organisation of chromatin

10. Unique and repetitive sequences

11. The chemical composition of chromatin

12. The phases of cell cycle

13. The regulation of cell cycle

14. Mitosis and meiosis

15. General features of replication

16. The mechanism of replication in prokaryotes

17. Eukaryotic replication

18. DNA repair

19. The mechanism of prokaryotic transcription

20. General features of eukaryotic transcription

21. Synthesis and processing of eukaryotic pre-rRNA

22. Synthesis of pre-mRNA in eukaryotes. Cap formation and polyadenylation

23. Pre-mRNA splicing

24. Synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA

25. The structure and function of ribosomes

26. The genetic code

27. Steps of translation

28. General features of translation

29. The lactose operon

30. The tryptophan operon

31. Levels of regulation of eukaryotic gene expression

32. Eukaryotic transcription factors

33. The mechanism of action of steroid hormones

34. Rough endoplasmic reticulum

35. Golgi complex. Protein glycosylation

36. The mechanism of secretion

37. Endocytosis

38. The mechanism of vesicular transport

39. Lysosomes. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

40. Oxygen free radicals. Membrane damage. Lipid peroxidation

41. The structure and function of mitochondria

42. The genetic apparatus of mitochondria

43. Mitochondrial diseases

44. Microtubules

45. Microfilaments

46. Intermediate filaments

47. The cell membrane

48. Cell junctions

49. Passive and active transport

50. The extracellular matrix

Examiners

• Balassa Tímea
• Németh Marica
• Pap Marianna

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars