The balance between cell survival and cell death is carefully controlled by cellular signaling pathways during development and physiological as well as pathological processes. It is perhaps counterintuitive that cell death is not necessarily a bad thing in the organism. For instance, it not only contributes to aging but also plays an essential role in embryonic development to carve out tissue architectures. Likewise, on the one hand cell death in response to genotoxic insults can deplete (stem) cell pools causing tissue degeneration but on the other hand it clears the body of cells carrying damaged DNA that may otherwise cause cancer.
In this caput program, the different forms of cell death are discussed as well as some of the essential cell signaling pathways controlling those forms. Lectures are combined with paper discussions to reach the following end goals of the course:
Knowledge of the different types of cell death
Knowledge of the signaling pathways in control of the various cellular survival/death decisions
Understanding of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy
Understanding of the role of p53, caspases, and the Bcl2 family in these forms of cell death
Understanding of the role of the immune system as a regulator of cell death pathways
The course includes an oral presentation and a written examination.
Coordinator
Dr. E. Danen
Toegangseisen
Basic Cell Biology and Biochemistry.
Onderwijsvorm
Lectures
Literatuur
Albert et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell
Former bachelor students of ‘Bio-Farmaceutische Wetenschappen’ can use the following book for additional reading: ‘Mechanistic Toxicology’ by Urs A Boelsterli, Publishers: Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0-415-28459-7.
Rooster
The course will be given on Wednesdays from February 11th to March 25th, 2015 and exam on March 31st 2015. See roster for details.
Inschrijving
Application via uSis.