The course is taught in English.
Protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions play central roles in signal and energy transduction within the cell. In the first part, the course reviews principal signaling pathways such as calcium and phospholipid signaling, trimeric G-protein coupled signaling, MAPK cascades, or growth factor receptor signaling, among others. In the second and main part, important classes of regulatory proteins are presented in more detail, illustrating the structure-function relationship, significance for oncogenesis, and latest advancements in the field. Major topics: Protein serine kinases, protein tyrosine kinases, lipid kinases, phospholipases, adenylate and guanylate cyclases, protein domains important in signaling, growth factor and cytokine receptors, adaptor proteins, small G proteins, MAPK cascades, focal adhesion signaling, important classes of transcription factors and their modes of regulation, coactivators of transcription factors, complexes for modification and remodeling of chromatin, preinitiation complex of RNAPolII, nuclear structure and gene expression.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (06.07.2021)
Literature -
General overview of cell signaling and basic principles:
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th. Edition, 2014, Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, et al. Parts: Proteins, Control of Gene Expression Cell Communication
Molecular Cell Biology, 7th. Edition, 2013, Harvey Lodish, Arnold Berk, et al.
Chapters 11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23
Alternatively, use newer edition of any recognized international textbook on cell and molecular biology, biochemistry or molecular physiology.
Cell signaling textbooks:
Biochemistry of Signal Transduction and Regulation, Viley, 2014, G. Kraus
Signal transduction, Academic press, 2015, ljsbrand Kramer
Signal Transduction: Principles, Pathways, and Processes, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1st Ed., 2013, Lewis Cantley,Tony Hunter et al.
Cellular Signal Processing: An Introduction to the Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction, Taylor & Francis, 2nd Ed., 2017, Friedrich Marks et al.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (06.07.2021)
General overview of cell signaling and basic principles:
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th. Edition, 2014, Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, et al. Parts: Proteins, Control of Gene Expression Cell Communication
Molecular Cell Biology, 7th. Edition, 2013, Harvey Lodish, Arnold Berk, et al.
Chapters 11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 23
Alternatively, use newer edition of any recognized international textbook on cell and molecular biology, biochemistry or molecular physiology.
Cell signaling textbooks:
Biochemistry of Signal Transduction and Regulation, Viley, 2014, G. Kraus
Signal transduction, Academic press, 2015, ljsbrand Kramer
Signal Transduction: Principles, Pathways, and Processes, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1st Ed., 2013, Lewis Cantley,Tony Hunter et al.
Cellular Signal Processing: An Introduction to the Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction, Taylor & Francis, 2nd Ed., 2017, Friedrich Marks et al.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (06.07.2021)
Requirements to the exam
The course in concluded by oral exam. For Erasmus students, effort will be made to accomodate various backgrounds and curricula of the students. Basic understanding of cell signaling as covered in, e.g., the textbooks of Molecular and Cellular Biology is required as minimum.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (26.05.2019)
Requisites for virtual mobility
Basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology is required. To benefit from the course, previous accomplishment of the courses of Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and/or Cell Physiology in whatever combination is recommended. The course is aimed at explaining the molecular details of signaling and it is assumed that the student is interested in the structure function relationships at the subcellular level.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (05.07.2021)
Syllabus -
Key characteristics of cellular signaling networks are explained at the beginning of the course (1.-15.) and illustrated on the examples covered in subsequent lectures (A.-I.).
1. Receptors couple ligand-binding and effector specificity 2. Signal is amplified on its way from receptor to effector 3. Signal transduction pathways converge, diverge, form nodules and interact with each other - crosstalk 4. Signal is transduced with the help of reversible posttranslational modifications and recognition codes 5. Change in proximity of signaling molecules is itself an important signal 6. Regulated folding and specific proteolysis can be used to transduce signals 7. Signal transduction is compartmentalized using membranes and protein skeletons 8. Information is transduced through both the amplitude and the frequency of messenger concentration changes 9. Signal components are highly mobile molecules 10. Complexity of signaling networks is achieved through combination of limited sets of elements 11. Cell responses to signals have cooperative character 12. Response to signal is always cell- and signal-context dependent 13. Quantity changes in signaling networks can lead to quality changes in cell responses 14. Signaling network robustness helps to distinguish signal from noise 15. Effector systems of the cell form one integrated network.
Outlines of signaling networks are explained; structure-function relationships of signaling proteins are presented. A. cAMP – protein kinase A – CREB A1. Protein kinase A structure-function A2. PKA – CREB signaling A3. Modularity in signaling B. MAP kinase cascades – from mitogenic signals and stressors to Jun/Fos activation C. Insulin receptor - PI3Kinases - PKB - FoxO transcription factor D. GSK3 in PKB and Wnt signaling E. Nuclear hormone receptors E1. Receptor structure-function E2. Coregulators, SREMs, chromatin environment F. Tumor suppressor p53 – from genotoxic stress to the p53 oscillator and the activation of p21 gene G. TGFβ signaling and CDK inhibitors – sensing gradients H. NFκB/Rel pathways – two modalities of ubiquitin signaling I. Myc/Max – pRb – E2F transcription factors – Myc as a regulator of transcription pausing.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (06.07.2021)
Key characteristics of cellular signaling networks are explained at the beginning of the course (1.-15.) and illustrated on the examples covered in subsequent lectures (A.-I.).
1. Receptors couple ligand-binding and effector specificity 2. Signal is amplified on its way from receptor to effector 3. Signal transduction pathways converge, diverge, form nodules and interact with each other - crosstalk 4. Signal is transduced with the help of reversible posttranslational modifications and recognition codes 5. Change in proximity of signaling molecules is itself an important signal 6. Regulated folding and specific proteolysis can be used to transduce signals 7. Signal transduction is compartmentalized using membranes and protein skeletons 8. Information is transduced through both the amplitude and the frequency of messenger concentration changes 9. Signal components are highly mobile molecules 10. Complexity of signaling networks is achieved through combination of limited sets of elements 11. Cell responses to signals have cooperative character 12. Response to signal is always cell- and signal-context dependent 13. Quantity changes in signaling networks can lead to quality changes in cell responses 14. Signaling network robustness helps to distinguish signal from noise 15. Effector systems of the cell form one integrated network.
Outlines of signaling networks are explained; structure-function relationships of signaling proteins are presented. A. cAMP – protein kinase A – CREB A1. Protein kinase A structure-function A2. PKA – CREB signaling A3. Modularity in signaling B. MAP kinase cascades – from mitogenic signals and stressors to Jun/Fos activation C. Insulin receptor - PI3Kinases - PKB - FoxO transcription factor D. GSK3 in PKB and Wnt signaling E. Nuclear hormone receptors E1. Receptor structure-function E2. Coregulators, SREMs, chromatin environment F. Tumor suppressor p53 – from genotoxic stress to the p53 oscillator and the activation of p21 gene G. TGFβ signaling and CDK inhibitors – sensing gradients H. NFκB/Rel pathways – two modalities of ubiquitin signaling I. Myc/Max – pRb – E2F transcription factors – Myc as a regulator of transcription pausing.
Last update: Folk Petr, doc. RNDr., CSc. (06.07.2021)
