Development and Signaling

Code:

BIOL4002

Acronym:

BIOL4002

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Functional Biology and Biotechnology of Plants

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BFBP	15	Plano de Estudos M:BFBP_2015_2016.	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The aim of this course is the understanding of signal transduction pathways in plants that coordinate gene expression with the development and the responses of plants to environmental conditions, providing the basis for regulation of physiology and development ie its Functional Biology.

In this UC is also intended that students come into contact with the investigation conducted in UP in the area of Biotechnology and Functional Biology of Plants, guiding them in the choice of dissertation theme.

After completion of curricular unit, the student should be able to:

- Understand the general principles of signal transduction in plants

- Recognize the signaling pathways involved in some physiological processes that occur during development or in response to environmental factors

 - Understand the interaction between different signaling pathways

- Know methodologies and technology used in research in the area of Functional Biology of Plants.

Learning outcomes and competences

By studying the various signal transduction pathways that intervenes in the regulation of cellular processes not only by environmental stimuli such as the signs of development in plants, students will understand the mechanisms of plant adaptation to the environment and acquire skills that will enable them to understand the strategies survival in terms of physiological and development responses of the plants to environmental changes.

Upon learning of the various research lines developed in UP and addressed in the UC program, students will broaden their knowledge in Biotechnology and Functional Biology of Plants, and acquire skills to delineate clearly their master's projects, where they can develop some of research tools available on the UP and expand the range of options in their choice of dissertation topic.

Working method

Presencial

Program

 

- General pathways of cell signaling in plants: concept of signal transduction, characteristics of the transduction pathways, receptors and secondary messengers.

- Post-translational modifications and interactions between proteins: Importance and types of modifications most abundant in plants.

- Signaling during the process of nodulation of leguminous plants

- Signaling by light and by the circadian clock.

- Redox signaling. Signaling by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).

- Glycosylation and intracellular trafficking

- Perception and transmission of the hormonal signal. Cell-to-cell communication. Hormonal signaling pathways. Signaling pathways activated by cytokinin, ethylene, brassinosteroids, abscisic acid, and gibberellins.

- Auxin as a "morphogen" and in the role of auxin during the development of vascular tissues.

- Stem cells during embryonic development.

- Development of root hairs, trichomes and stomata.

- Signaling in pollen-pistil interaction; gametophytic and sporophytic self-incompatibility.

-  Practical program: Electrophoresis 2 D for detection of isoenzymes and  protein  post-translational modifications

Mandatory literature

Baluska Frantisek 340; Signaling in plants. ISBN: 978-3-540-89228-1
Yang Zhenbiao 1961- 340; Intracellular signaling in plants. ISBN: 978-1-4051-6002-5
Río del Luís Alfonso 340; Reactive oxygen species in plant signaling. ISBN: 978-3-642-00389-9
Hakeem KR, RRehman RU and Tahir I; Plant signaling: understanding the molecular crosstalk, 2014. ISBN: 978-81-322-1541-7
Taiz Lincoln; Plant physiology. ISBN: 978-0-87893-831-5
O. Leyser & S. Day, ; Mechanisms in plant development, Blackwell Publishing , 2011

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures are presented in slideshow using the software power point. In lectures is encouraged student participation through discussion. Laboratory classes "hands on", providing the acquisition of specific skills, in particular those resulting from the execution of laboratory activities. In TP classes will be taken the presentation and discussion of recent articles in the area and the various research groups of the area are invited to present their research work, as well as potential masters projects that may be developed by the students. This cycle of lectures includes not only the various teachers in the area of Biotechnology and Functional Biology of Plant from Department of Biology, but also researchers of research laboratories as I3S, REQUINTE, GreenUPorto, CIBIO and CIIMAR.

 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	110,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Student attendance:

1. Having been regularly enrolled, do not exceed the limit of absences corresponding to 25% of the planned classes

2. Presentation of work.

Calculation formula of final grade

Type of assessment: Continuous evaluation with final exam. Students will be assessed through a written test (75%) and the presentation of a theme (25%). 

Minimum grade in the written test: 6 points

Final grade = (exam grade*0,75)+(presentation grade *0,25)

Classification improvement

Students will be able to improve their written test grade (75%).

Observations

Coordenator Professor: Paula Melo