12762 - Signal Transduction Modulübersicht

Module Number: 12762
Module Title:Signal Transduction
  Signaltransduktion
Department: Faculty 2 - Environment and Natural Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Dr. rer. nat. Schmidt, Carsten
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every winter semester
Credits: 5
Learning Outcome:Understanding inter- and intracellular communications is essential when working in life science. Although the complexity of the issue makes the subject almost unmanageable there exist general principles and types of molecules that play a key role in signal transduction. A profound knowledge of these provides the basis to look into any kind of pathway successfully. In addition to understand the concepts it is of the same value to also know key experimental approaches that are applicable to elucidate signal transduction components and networks. It is therefore the aim of the lecture to develop an understanding not only of key signaling pathways (professional competences) but also of the experimental methodology used to study signal transduction in the lab.

Summary:
At the end of the module students are able to remember general mechanisms and understand the relevant scientific literature. They are able to apply the knowledge to design and perform own experiments. They can analyze and evaluate the data they obtain and should be able to create various new approaches to study and work in the field of signal transduction.
Contents:Due to the importance and the basic student  knowledge of G-protein coupled  receptors (GPCR) general aspects of ligand-receptor interaction, receptor activation and desensitization  are discussed focusing on this subject. The importance of protein translocation and modification is underlined and explained using several examples. Within the same context binding experiments and the analysis of agonists and antagonist are explained. Using the GPCR topic a complete “story” is developed starting with ligand affinity down to the FRET-based methods of measuring receptor activation and inactivation. Students understanding is challenged by questions concerning the outline and the execution of relevant experiments to make clear that in general very similar approaches are used to study completely different signaling pathways. Emphasis is placed on experiments based on knock-down, knock-out, overexpression and inhibitors.

A seminar is offered to deepen the understanding of the contents of the lecture and to prepare the students for their "working" with current scientific studies.

Membrane Receptor mediated
  • G-protein coupled
  • Enzyme based (i.e. Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, JAK/STAT, TGFbeta)
  • Cytokine classes I-IV
  • Ion channels
  • Special pathways (Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, Cholesterol)
Non-membrane receptor mediated
  • Nitric oxide (NO) pathway
  • Steroid hormone receptors
Recommended Prerequisites:none
Mandatory Prerequisites:none
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 1 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 105 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • Textbook: Signal Transduction, IJisbrand M. Kramer, AP
  • Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment (stke.sciencemag.org)
  • Recent original scientific publications
Module Examination:Final Module Examination (MAP)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:Written Examination (120 min)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Master (applied) / Biotechnology / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Biotechnology / PO 2018
Remarks:
The module will not be offered in WS 23/24.
"Recommended Placement in the Study Plan"
  • Biotechnology (Master of Science, 3 Semester Version): Master 1st year course
  • Biotechnology (Master of Science, 4 Semester Version): Master 2nd year course
Module Components:
  • Lecture "Signal Transduction"
  • Seminar "Signal Transduction"
  • Examination "Signal Transduction"
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment