SUBJECT

Title

The Cytskeleton of Eukaryotic Cells

Type of instruction

lecture

Level

master

Part of degree program
Credits

2

Recommended in

Semesters 1-4

Typically offered in

Autumn/Spring semester

Course description

1.The family of tubulins, comparison of sequences, formation heterodimers, tubulin-like proteins in prokariotic species.

2.Microtubule structures, the number and arrangement of protofilaments, lateral and longitudinal contactacts between heterodimers.

3.Microtubule assembly and disassembly, the kinetics of polymerization, critical concetration, the GTPase activity of beta-tubulin, the (+) and (-) ends, dynamic instability..

4.Microtubule- associated proteins.

5.Kinesins and dyneins: the motor proteins of microtubular network.

6.The spatial organization of microtubular network, role of microtubule-organizing center and motor proteins.

7.The centrosome, spindle poles, centrioles, and their cyclic changes during the cell cycle.

8.Microtubules as organizers of enzyme complexes in the cytoplasm, microtubular drugs.

9.The actin network: G-actin, F-actin , kinetics of polymerization, ATPase activity, (+) and (-) end, treadmilling, actin-like proteins in Prokaryotes.

10.Actin-associated proteins governing nucleation, assembly and disassembly and spatial organization of actin network.

11.Myosins: the motor proteins of actin network.

12.Cell locomotion, the rearrangement of actin network during motion, small G-proteins as regulators of actin dynamics.

13 Interaction between intracellular bacterial pathogens and host cell cytoskeleton.

14.Intermediate filaments: structure. assembly, tissue-specific forms, interaction between elements of cytoskeleton.

Readings
  • Cooper G. F.The Cell. Sinauer Associates, 2000

  • Alberts B and oth. Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Sciences, 2002

  • Lodish H and oth. Molecular Cell Biology.Freeman&Co 2000

  • Recent reviews from scientific journals