OVERVIEW

The aim is to provide students with knowledge of cellular mechanisms that increase the complexity of cell function, with particular attention to the quality control of expression, with references to the role of such mechanisms during development and, when malfunctioning, in the predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Cellular and Developmental Biology aims to deepen the knowledge of the cell by describing in detail the biological processes that regulate both intercellular and intracellular communication between the different compartments with particular attention in every process to the regulation of gene expression both in conditions physiological and pathological and during development.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Cellular and Developmental Biology aims at investigating the interactions between the different cellular components, in particular those that play a role in regulating gene expression, both in terms of production and elimination of proteins. Starting from the mechanisms that regulate the interaction between the extracellular environment and the nucleus with the ultimate aim of regulating gene expression, we will move on to analyzing other pathways assigned to regulate gene expression by means of non-coding RNAs and quality control mechanisms of proteins. This will therefore lead to address the topic of cellular response to the formation of protein aggregates and the methods that can be used to study these processes starting from cell cultures up to stem cells and organoids. The mechanisms of epithelium-mesenchyme and mesenchyme-epithelium transitions and the mechanisms of intercellular communication and migration will be studied in depth. Particular attention will be given to the role of the cytoskeleton in all the processes analyzed.
Each topic will be joined to the previous ones and at the end of the course the student will be able to connect all the acquired notions, to understand how the cellular signal networks are tightly integrated and how the cytoskeleton fits in the regulation of intra and extra-cellular signals.
The study of cellular processes will be approached both from a theoretical perspective, outlining the role of various mechanisms in physiological conditions, pathology, and development, and from a practical perspective, guiding the student through the "laboratory" study of cellular mechanisms, through the application of molecular biology concepts and practical examples.

PREREQUISITES

To understand lessons well, it is required that the student has acquired the basic knowledge of Cytology, Genetics and Molecular Biology.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons through the use of multimedia presentations and some laboratory sessions to deepen into specific arguments.

Please refer to the AulaWeb specific teaching request for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

In the context of innovative teaching, the following teaching methods will be applied:

• Use of multimedia: The study materials provided will include links and QR codes to guide students to topic-specific articles and videos.

• Real-time updates on new findings and classroom discussions

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Interactions between nucleus and cytoskeleton in the regulation of gene expression in response to external stimuli (mechanosensing-mechanotransduction)

2. Classification and functioning of the types of non-coding RNA in gene expression (microRNA, long ncRNA, circ-RNA) and role in development (i.e. inactivation of the X chromosome,

3. Ubiquitin-proteasome system: operation, regulation, assembly

4. Cell quality control systems (UPR, ERAD, RQC)

5. Types of autophagy (microautophagy, mediated by chaperone, macroautophagy, independent and dependent ubiquitin organellophagy); role of autophagy in reproduction.

6. Role of the cytoskeleton in macroautophagy: microfilaments and microtubules in the formation of autophagosomes and in the transport of vesicles.

7. Mutual regulation between autophagy and apoptosis: role of autophagic proteins, cytoskeleton and autophagosomes

8. Proteins aggregation and cellular response

9. Description of cellular and molecular tools for the study of the analysed mechanisms (sensor plasmids to evaluate the functioning of the UPS system, autophagy, reporter plasmids to study the effect of microRNA, planning of experimental approaches and examples)

10. Cell migration: 1D, 2D and 3D migration differential gene expression, cytoskeleton and regulation of focal adhesion formation, single and collective migration.

11. Increasingly complex cellular models: single-layer, 2D, 3D, organoid, 4D systems.

12. Stem cells: classification, characteristics; production and use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and MSCs with main attention to their secretome.

13. Epithelium-mesenchyme transition and mesenchyme-epithelium transition: events that characterize the two processes and mechanisms of mutual regulation and their role in the generation of iPSCs.

14. Intercellular communication through cellular processes cytonema and "tunneling nanotubes": role of the cytoskeleton in their formation; use of these mechanisms in signaling between stem cells and in the propagation of protein aggregates or organelles between neurons and astrocytes.

15. Mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration: prion protein, propagation of protein aggregates and organelles between neurons and astrocytes.
16. Biology of aging: mechanisms underlying cellular and whole-organism aging; the role of impaired quality control of gene expression. Development of "anti-aging" drugs and "molecular glues."

At the end of the lessons a laboratory session can be organized, in which the student will prepare a cell culture slide and analyze it under a fluorescence microscope

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For each lesson, articles and if available videos on the topic will be provided on AulaWeb as link or as QRcode in slides, in addition to slides used during frontal lessons and shared in AulaWeb.

For some topics the book Bruce Alberts Alexander Johnson Julian Lewis David Morgan Martin Raff Keith Roberts Peter Walter "Molecular biology of the cell", ed. Zanichelli can be used

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

TIZIANA BACHETTI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons will take place during the second semester.

For lessons start and timetable go to the link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Please check the module Aulaweb page for timetable updates dependent on the sanitary and epidemic situation.
 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The election exam method will be the written test (open-ended questions on general and specific topics).
Please refer to the AulaWeb specific teaching request for any updates due to changes in the health and epidemiological situation.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the exam, the level of acquisition of the notions given during the course and the student's ability to process them critically will be assessed. The questions will cover both general and specific topics. The ability to autonomously make connections between the various topics of the lessons will be positively evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a physical or learning disability certification filed with the University can find information about support services at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, a website provided by the "Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA" department.

You can also contact Professor Cristina Carbone (cristina.carbone@unige.it), the DISTAV contact for disabilities.