Course: Molecular Cell Biology of Plants

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Course title Molecular Cell Biology of Plants
Course code KBB/MBBRE
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 2
Language of instruction English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šamaj Jozef, prof. RNDr. DrSc.
Course content
1. Introduction to plant cell biology, endosymbiotic theory, brief overview of plant cells, structural and functional compartmentalization of plant cells, semiautonomous and other organelles, cell compartments, vesicles, plant cell specifics - plastids, cytoskeleton, cell wall 2. Cell wall in plants, structure, ontogenesis and function, cell plate development, primary and secondary cell wall, molecular components - cellulose, pectin, hemicelluloses, glycoproteins and proteoglycans, lignin, suberin, concept of continuum / interaction cell wall - plasma membrane - cytoskeleton in plants 3. Plasma membrane, structure, structural proteins, receptors, pumps, channels, structural lipids and phospholipids, interactions with the environment 4. Vesicular transport I: vesicular secretion, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi, trans-Golgi network, vacuoles, vesicles, structure and function with emphasis on molecular aspects, chaperones (BiP, calreticulin), ER stress, adaptor proteins, coat proteins COPI, COPII, SNARE proteins, VSR (vacuolar sorting receptors), Rab GTPase, Exocyst complex, SCAMP 5. Vesicular transport II: endocytosis, molecular structure and function of endosomes and endocytosis in plants, clathrin, adaptor proteins, dynamin, Rab GTPases, sorting nexin, Escort complex, Retromer complex 6. Plant cytoskeleton, tubulin, microtubules, microtubule associated proteins (MAPs), kinesin motor proteins, actin, actin cytoskeleton, actin binding proteins (ABPs), myosin motor proteins, organization and dynamic cytoskeleton changes during cell ontogenesis, cytoskeletal mutants, interactions between microtubules and actin 7. Signalling, signal transmission, plasma membrane receptor kinases, interactions of signal molecules with cytoskeleton and vesicular transport, protein kinase with emphasis on plant mitogen-activated protein kinase, their localization, substrates and functions, secondary signal transducers in plants - Ca, ROS, NO, PI 8. Ontogenesis and differentiation of plant cells, stem cells, cell division and growth, mitosis and meiosis, plant cell specificity (cell division and phragmoplast), totipotency of plant cells and derived biotechnological aspects, biodiversity and specialized plant cell types, symmetrical and asymmetric divisions, plant polarity 9. Cell nucleus, nucleolus, structure, dynamics, molecular structure and function, nuclear membrane, nuclear pores, heterochromatin, euchromatin, transcription, chromosomes 10. Plastids, types of plastids - proplastids, chloroplasts, amyloplasts, leucoplasts, chromoplasts, molecular structure and functions, molecular basis of photosynthesis, dynamics and movement of plastids 11. Mitochondria, peroxisomes, glyoxisomes, liposomes, structure and function, molecular basis of respiration, division of mitochondria, dynamics and movement of mitochondria and peroxisomes 12. Intercellular interactions, plasmodesmata, development of cells in tissues and organs, polarity, molecular aspects of polar growth, interactions of plant cells with microorganisms (symbiosis, mycorrhiza)

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to teach students on the molecular structure and functional organization of plant cells, principles of cell organelles and compartments. Attention will also be given on the ontogenesis and differentiation of plant cells and their organization into tissues and organs. The subject summarizes the knowledge of molecular cell biology, genetics, structural molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology.
Student will be able to: - define the main concepts and describe the main approaches used in molecular cell biology of plants
Prerequisites


Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam

70% test in the scope of the subject.
Recommended literature
  • Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. (2007). Molecular biology of the cell. 5th edition. Tailor & Francis.
  • Gunning BES. (2009). Plant cell biology on DVD. Springer.
  • Šamaj, Baluška, Menzel. (2006). Plant Endocytosis. Springer, pp. 314.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester