Course Description
Biosynthesis of metabolic building blocks (amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids) and macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, and cell surface structures), environmental regulation, and coordination of these processes with transport and cell division as they occur in key model prokaryotes.
Athena Title
PROK CELL BIOLOGY
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
MIBO8600 will focus on prokaryotic cell biology of the best understood organism in the world, Escherichia coli. Principle reading assignments will consist of review articles and journal articles. Recommended supplemental readings include: "Biology of the Prokaryotes" by Lengeler, Drews, and Schlegel, and "Escherichia coli and Salmonella: Cellular and Molecular Biology", Second edition. Neidhardt et al. (ed.). American Society for Microbiology Press. The CD-ROM of the latter book is available in the Center for Scientific Computing and Visualization. The principle goal is to help you become adept at critical reading of the primary research literature. Each week we will cover a different topic. You will be assigned one primary research article relevant to the topic of that week and one or more review articles (see accompanying reading lists). Each class period will consist of a discussion of these papers, based around a technique for critical reading (see handout: "How to Read a Scientific Paper"). Before each meeting, carefully read the indicated articles. On the first day of a particular topic, be prepared to ask questions about anything you do not understand in the primary research article. On the second day be prepared to answer questions posed by the instructors on these materials! You should also expect questions on these research articles to appear on the exams. Class participation (15% of total grade) is based on your verbal contributions in the ASK and ANSWER sessions. Do not expect any points if you do not speak up. You will receive a progress report on your participation after each exam. Exams will be open book and will emphasize the primary literature. Please bring copies of the research articles to the exam.
Topical Outline
Section 1: Macromolecular Synthesis, Part 1: Cell Surface Assembly; DNA Metabolism Jan 8 How to read a paper Jan 10 Murein Jan 15 Jan 17 Replication and Repair Jan 22 Jan 24 Recombination Jan 29 Jan 31 Exam 1 Section 2: Macromolecular Synthesis, Part 2: RNA and Protein Feb 5 Transcription Feb 7 Feb 12 Translation Feb 14 Feb 19 Operon-level Regulation: mRNA processing Feb 21 Feb 26 Exam 2 Section 3: Assimilating Building Blocks Feb 28 Bioenergetics Mar 5 Mar 7 Transport Mar 12 Mar 14 Nitrogen Assimilation Mar 18-22 Spring Break Mar 26 Nitrogen Assimilation Mar 28 Exam 3 Section 4: Global Regulation Apr 2 Posttranslational control Apr 4 Apr 9 Global regulation Apr 11 Apr 16 Bacterial cell cycle Apr 18 Apr 23 Exam 4 Apr 26 Review May 3 8:00-11:00AM COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM