2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Department of Life Science and Technology Graduate major in Life Science and Technology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Hiroshi Kimura / Hiroshi Iwasaki / Yuki Yamaguchi / Yasunori Aizawa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Livestream)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Tue / 1-2 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A401
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The course will cover the mechanism and regulation of genome expression and dynamics in the context of chromatin and nuclear structure at cellular levels, toward understanding biological phenomena such as development, differentiation, and diseases. Topics will include the structure and function of cell nucleus, chromatin and chromosomes, the organization of genome, the molecular mechanism of transcription, DNA replication, repair, and recombination, and the regulation of the cell cycle and cell motility.
The main goal of the course is to understand the molecular mechanism of genome and chromatin function, which is essential for further learning of higher-order biological function and application for bioengineering.
This is an intermediate to advanced course in molecular and cellular biology. Students are expected to have basic knowledge in Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, and advised to enroll the related basic courses (i.e., Molecular Biology I and II and Biochemistry I and II) in order to receive optimal instruction.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. explain the function, structure, and dynamics of cell nucleus, chromatin, and chromosomes
2. explain the detailed mechanism of eukaryotic transcription
3. explain the genome dynamics and chromatin domains
4. explain the detailed mechanism of eukaryotic DNA replication, repair, and recombination
5. explain the regulatory mechanism and diversity of cell cycle
Keywords
cell nucleus, chromatin, chromosome, transcriptional regulation, genome, DNA transaction, cell cycle, cell growth, cell motility, cytoskeleton
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures will be given online in English (Live Lecture). In the last 15-20 min of each lecture, group discussion for understanding the lecture contents will be organized. During the group discussion, using Japanese may be allowed depending on a circumstance.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Structure and function of cell nucleus, chromatin, and chromosome: (1) The structure | Students must be able to explain the structure of cell nucleus, chromatin, and chromosomes (Kimura) |
| Class 2 | Structure and function of cell nucleus, chromatin, and chromosome: (2) Subnuclear structures and their dynamics | Students must be able to explain the mechanism of typical subnuclear structure formation and dynamics (Kimura) |
| Class 3 | Structure and function of cell nucleus, chromatin, and chromosome: (3) The function | Students must be able to explain the function of cell nucleus, chromatin, and chromosomes (Kimura) |
| Class 4 | Regulation of transcription: (1) Molecular mechanism of the initiation, elongation and termination | Students must be able to explain the detailed molecular mechanism of the initiation, elongation, and termination of eukaryotic transcription (Yamaguchi) |
| Class 5 | Regulation of transcription: (2) Molecular mechanism of gene repression and activation | Students must be able to explain the detailed molecular mechanism of gene repression in eukaryotes (Yamaguchi) |
| Class 6 | Regulation of transcription: (3) Coupling mechanism of transcription with other processes | Students must be able to explain the coupling mechanism of transcription with other processes in eukaryotes (Yamaguchi) |
| Class 7 | Functional genome and chromatin: (1) The structure and dynamics | Students must be able to explain the details of genome structure and dynamics, including transposon, non-coding DNA and non-coding RNA (Aizawa) |
| Class 8 | Functional genome and chromatin: (2) Heterochromatin, euchromatin, and inter-chromatin interaction | Students must be able to explain heterochromatin, euchromatin and inter-chromatin interaction (Aizawa) |
| Class 9 | Functional genome: (3) Centromere, telomere, and nuclear positioning | Students must be able to explain the nuclear positioning of chromatin, and functional domains like centromeres and telomeres (Aizawa) |
| Class 10 | DNA transaction: (1) Molecular mechanism of eukaryotic DNA replication | Students must be able to explain the detailed molecular mechanism of eukaryotic DNA replication (Iwasaki) |
| Class 11 | DNA transaction: (2) DNA damage repair and disease | Students must be able to explain the detailed molecular mechanism of eukaryotic DNA repair (Iwasaki) |
| Class 12 | DNA transaction: (3) Molecular mechanism of DNA recombination and meiosis | Students must be able to explain the detailed molecular mechanism and biological significance of eukaryotic DNA recombination (Iwasaki) |
| Class 13 | Regulation and diversity of cell cycle | Students must be able to explain the regulation and diversity of the eukaryotic cell cycle (Kimura) |
| Class 14 | Overview of Molecular and Cellular Biology | Students will be able to explain the function and mechanism of cell nucleus and motility based on the submitted reports/essays |
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 afterward (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to course materials and other resources (e.g., books, research papers, and websites).
Textbook(s)
none
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course material will be distributed at each class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their ability to describe the molecular and cellular biology given in the course and to utilize the knowledge for problem-solving. Students' course scores are evaluated by students' participation in group discussion and students' reports that should be submitted at the end of the course.
Related courses
- LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
- LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have basic knowledge in Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, and enrollment in Biochemistry I, II and Molecular Biology I, II is encouraged.