6 ECTS credits
168 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1009837BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Om een inschrijving te kunnen nemen voor 'Experimentele cellulaire en moleculaire biologie II' moet men geslaagd zijn voor het volledige eerste jaar bachelor BMW én moet men geslaagd zijn 'Experimentele cellulaire en moleculaire biologie I'. OF Om een inschrijving te kunnen nemen voor ‘Experimentele cellulaire en moleculaire biologie II’ moet men ingeschreven zijn in het verkort Bachelorprogramma Biomedische Wetenschappen en voor deze groep studenten geldt dat men geslaagd moet zijn voor ‘Experimentele cellulaire en moleculaire biologie I’.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculteit Geneeskunde en Farmacie
Department
Basis (bio-) medische wetensch
Educational team
Karin Vanderkerken
Elke De Bruyne
Eva De Smedt
Hatice Satilmis
Ron Kooijman (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
36 contact hours Lecture
32 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

Gene expression and protein research
Proteins are effector molecules of the cell which are responsible for most cellular processes. Protein expression can be regulated at the level of transcription or translation. In addition, post-translational modifications modify protein activity. The first part of this class deals with methods used to analyse gene expression at the mRNA and the protein level. The second, and major, part is dedicated to protein research, including protein detection and purification, post-translational modifications, protein-protein interactions and proteomics.

The practical course is a continuation of ECMB part 1 in which the students have acquired skills to culture eukaryotic cells. Cells cultured in vitro will be transfected with a eukaryotic expression vector coding for a human protein. Cellular expression will be analyzed at both the protein and mRNA level using immunohistochemistry, Westen blotting and RT-PCR techniques. Protein secretion will be assessed with an Enzyme Immunometric Assay.  The results will be presented in a brief scientific report in the format of a scientific paper.

 The aims of ECMB-2 are:
1. To provide additional background information on proteins.
2. To introduce specialised techniques relevant to the modern protein research area (e.g. proteomics).
3. To provide students with more insight into how protein research contributes to different aspects of biomedical research: gene function, etiology of diseases, and diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Course material
Course text (Required) : Experimentele cellulaire en moleculaire biologie deel 2, R. Kooijman, VUB, 2220170008899, 2021
Practical course material (Required) : Wetenschappelijke publicaties, tijdens de lessen opgegeven
Digital course material (Required) : Powerpointpresentaties
Digital course material (Required) : Syllabus die dient als handleiding voor gebruik en integratie van het studiemateriaal
Handbook (Recommended) : Molecular Cell Biology, Lodish, 9de, Palgrave Macmillan, 9781319365486, 2021
Additional info

Notes taken during the course, Powerpoint presentation (online), scientific papers and chapters from Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish) and a guide for the use and integration of the study material.

Complementary study material:
Other chapters in Molecular Biology (Lodish) as background information.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Knowledge of different regulatory mechanisms orchestrating protein levels in the cell (transcription, translation, mRNA and protein degradation) and the basic processes involved.

Insight into how protein research contributes to different aspects of biomedical research: e.g. gene function, etiology of diseases, and diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

 

Knowledge of post-translational protein modifications and their effects on protein expression, protein function, protein transport and protein-protein interactions.

Knowledge of and insight into the state-of-the-art research methods involved in studying above mentioned mechanisms and of special relevance for biomedical research:

  1. The student understands the basic principles of the methods and knows how and when to apply them.
  2. The student is able to critically compare the different methods.
  3. The student knows how to use and combine different methods in order to address a scientific question.
  4. The student is able to draw conclusions from specific results obtained with certain methods.
  5. The student is able to interpret results from the literature obtained with the methods used.

Practical Competencies

Being able to perform the following techniques:

Cell culture, production and isolation of plasmids, isolation of mRNA, RT-PCR, transfection of eukaryotic cells, immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, Enzyme Immunometric Assays, agarose gel electrophoresis.

The student is able to interpret the obtained results of the experiments and to describe the results and conclusions in a scientific report.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 80% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 20% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 80% of the final mark.

    Note: Het examen over de HOC’s is mondeling. Er zal worden getest op kennis van en inzicht in onderzoeksmethoden en technieken in de biomedische research. Studenten moeten in staat te zijn om deze methoden met elkaar te vergelijken. Ook zullen de studenten inzicht moeten hebben in hoe de toe te passen methode afhangt van de vraagstelling en het gebruikte biologisch materiaal, en hoe men de verkregen resultaten kan interpreteren in de context van een vraagstelling.

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • WPO verslaggeving with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 6.7% of the final mark.

    Note: De prestaties in het practicum worden beoordeeld op basis van inzet, praktische vaardigheden en verslaggeving.
  • WPO praktische vaardigheden with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 6.7% of the final mark.

    Note: De prestaties in het practicum worden beoordeeld op basis van inzet, praktische vaardigheden en verslaggeving.
  • WPO inzet with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 6.7% of the final mark.

    Note: De prestaties in het practicum worden beoordeeld op basis van inzet, praktische vaardigheden en verslaggeving.

Additional info regarding evaluation

During an oral exam of 30 min, students will be tested for general theoretical knowledge and insight into the methods. Students should be able interpretate results of experiments using different techniques within the context of a scientific question, and they should know how and when to apply different kind strategies and methods. The oral exam will account for 80 % and the practical course for 20 % of the final score.

A resit is only possible for the oral examination. An exemption will be given for the oral examination or the practical assignment when the score for these parts is at least 10/20.

 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Abridged (only offered in Dutch)