2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Molecular Biology II
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Hiroshi Kimura / Naohiko Koshikawa / Yasunori Aizawa / Kazunori Tachibana / Takashi Suzuki
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue / 7-8 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A213
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 17, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The course will cover the structure and dynamics of cellular components, and the basic technologies for studying cells, including cell isolation, cell culture, and light and electron microscopy. Topics will include the details of subcellular compartments and the mechanism of macromolecule traffic system, signal transduction, cell cycle, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis. As an excellent molecular biology model, the life cycle of some viruses and bacteriophages will also be picked up.
The course aims to understand the basics of cell structure and function, which is essential for further learning of higher-order biological function and application for bioengineering.
Molecular Biology II is designed to be taken with Molecular Biology I and Biochemistry I and II. Students are advised to enroll in all four courses in order to receive optimal instruction.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. explain the techniques for cell isolation, culture of useful cells such as stem cells, and cell manipulation for genetics and reverse-genetics, and the microscope technologies to observe cell structure and dynamics including light, fluorescence, and electron microscopes.
2. explain the mechanism of intracellular traffic, including cytoplasmic-nuclear transport, endoplasmic reticulum, trans-Golgi network, lysosome, endocytosis and exocytosis, and signal transduction, including ligand-receptor biding, second messenger, phosphorylation cascade.
3. explain the cell cycle and its regulation by Cdk-cyclin, checkpoint, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis.
4. explain the mechanism of apoptosis and carcinogenesis, such as the nature of cancer cells, oncogene, anti-oncogenes, and treatments.
5. explain the characterization and structure of viruses, and the life cycle of lambda phase and influenza virus.
Keywords
cell culture, microscopy, membrane traffic, signal transduction, cell cycle, apoptosis, cancer, virus
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
When necessary, in the first 10-15 min of each lecture, a summary of the previous lecture is given, followed by the main points of the day's lecture. When necessary, in the last 10-20 min, a quiz may be given to find out if students have learned the material given.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Cell research strategy | Students must be able to explain the techniques for cell isolation and the importance of culturing cells including stem cells. |
| Class 2 | Cell compartment and traffic: other transport systemsCell compartment and traffic: other transport systems | Students must be able to explain cellular compartmentalization and the general principle of protein traffic and nuclear import. |
| Class 3 | Cell cycle: the basics and regulation | Students must be able to explain the character of each phase of cell cycle |
| Class 4 | Cell cycle: the basics and regulation | Students must be able to explain the regulatory mechanism by Cdk-cyclin |
| Class 5 | Cell cycle: mitosis and cytokinesis | Students must be able to explain the molecular mechanism of mitosis, cytokinesis, and checkpoint |
| Class 6 | Apoptosis | Students must be able to explain the character, mechanism, and biological role of apoptosis |
| Class 7 | Signal transduction: basics of intracellular signaling | Students must be able to explain the basic molecular mechanism of intracellular signaling |
| Class 8 | Viruses: life cycle of various viruses | Students must be able to explain the types and typical structure of viruses, and the life cycle of lambda phage |
| Class 9 | Viruses: life cycle of various viruses | Students must be able to explain the life cycle of influenza and other viruses |
| Class 10 | Signal transduction: GTP binding protein-coupled receptor and the second messengers | Students must be able to explain GTP-binding protein-coupled receptor pathway and the second messenger through endoplasmic reticulum |
| Class 11 | Signal transduction: enzyme-linked receptor and MAP kinase pathways | Students must be able to explain GTP-binding protein-coupled receptor pathway and the second messenger |
| Class 12 | Microscopy | Students must be able to explain the principle and application of cell observation techniques based on light and electron microscopy, such as phase contrast, DIC, fluorescence, confocal, and TIRF. |
| Class 13 | Cancer: oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes | Students must be able to explain how oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes contribute to tumorigenesis |
| Class 14 | Cancer: detection and clinical treatment | Students must be able to explain the characters of cancer cells, and the current situation of cancer treatment |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th & 6th Edition (Bruce Alberts et al., Garland Science); Biochemistry, 4th Edition (Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Wiley)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Biochemistry, 4th Edition (Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Wiley)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their ability to describe the molecular biology of the cell given in the course and to utilize the knowledge for problem-solving, and students' course scores are based on small examinations.
Related courses
- LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in Biochemistry I and Molecular Biology I is desirable.