- Teacher: Abdelali BOUSSIF
Cellular And Molecular Immunolgy (2025/2026)
This course is intended for third-year biochemistry students. It aims to establish the physiological and molecular bases of the development and function of the immune system, the immune response, the development of the immune system, and lymphocyte repertoires. Cellular signals and functions will also be covered in this teaching unit, as well as theories of immunity and its regulation.
- Teacher: Leila BARKAT
Biochimie cellulaire et fonctionnelle et signalisation (2025/2026)
Course Objectives and Content
Course Objectives
This course aims to provide the fundamental concepts of membrane dynamics, intracellular compartmentalization, and their integration into cellular function, as well as the transmission of intracellular signals mediated by hydrophilic ligands. It also introduces the concepts of signaling modules, network interconnections, and an initiation to biochemical genomics.
Course Content
Functional Compartmentalization of the Cell (Overview)
1. Biomembranes
A. Membrane composition: isolation and biochemical composition.
B. Biomolecular architecture of membranes.
C. Membrane transport: passive transport, active transport, and vesicular transport.
D. Adhesion and recognition proteins: receptor proteins, translocons, and related structures.
E. Expression of antigens, virulence markers, and cellular receptors.
F. Receptors, desensitization, and regulation of cellular response.
2. Structure–Function Relationships in the Cell
3.1. Biosynthesis of lipids, membrane proteins, and secretory proteins.
3.2. Ribosomes: protein synthesis, maturation, and targeting of proteins.
3.3. The ubiquitin–proteasome system: structure and function.
3.4. The lysosomal system: structure and function.
3.5. The nucleus and its interactions with the cytoskeleton.
The cytoskeleton: biochemical and mechanical stimuli responses and its role in focal adhesion (stress fibers). Examples of cytoskeletal involvement in various cellular signaling pathways.
3.6. Fibers and muscle contraction: structure and function of actin and myosin microfilaments.
3.7. The mitochondrion and the oxidative phosphorylation chain: structure, function, coupling sites, and fractionation of the oxidative-phosphorylating system.
3. Glycosylation of Macromolecules and Biological Roles
1. Glycoproteins: types of glycosidic linkages (O-glycosylation and N-glycosylation), importance of glycosylation (protein stability, recognition, etc.), molecular study of several glycoproteins (serum glycoproteins, blood group glycoproteins), and various human glycoproteins (lectins, membrane glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans).
2. Glycolipids: glycerolipids and glycosphingolipids (structure and function).
Signaling Chapter
• Receptors and ligands
• Signal amplification via second messengers
• Signal amplification through MAP kinase cascades
• Signaling abnormalities and related pathologies
Course Objectives
This course aims to provide the fundamental concepts of membrane dynamics, intracellular compartmentalization, and their integration into cellular function, as well as the transmission of intracellular signals mediated by hydrophilic ligands. It also introduces the concepts of signaling modules, network interconnections, and an initiation to biochemical genomics.
Course Content
Functional Compartmentalization of the Cell (Overview)
1. Biomembranes
A. Membrane composition: isolation and biochemical composition.
B. Biomolecular architecture of membranes.
C. Membrane transport: passive transport, active transport, and vesicular transport.
D. Adhesion and recognition proteins: receptor proteins, translocons, and related structures.
E. Expression of antigens, virulence markers, and cellular receptors.
F. Receptors, desensitization, and regulation of cellular response.
2. Structure–Function Relationships in the Cell
3.1. Biosynthesis of lipids, membrane proteins, and secretory proteins.
3.2. Ribosomes: protein synthesis, maturation, and targeting of proteins.
3.3. The ubiquitin–proteasome system: structure and function.
3.4. The lysosomal system: structure and function.
3.5. The nucleus and its interactions with the cytoskeleton.
The cytoskeleton: biochemical and mechanical stimuli responses and its role in focal adhesion (stress fibers). Examples of cytoskeletal involvement in various cellular signaling pathways.
3.6. Fibers and muscle contraction: structure and function of actin and myosin microfilaments.
3.7. The mitochondrion and the oxidative phosphorylation chain: structure, function, coupling sites, and fractionation of the oxidative-phosphorylating system.
3. Glycosylation of Macromolecules and Biological Roles
1. Glycoproteins: types of glycosidic linkages (O-glycosylation and N-glycosylation), importance of glycosylation (protein stability, recognition, etc.), molecular study of several glycoproteins (serum glycoproteins, blood group glycoproteins), and various human glycoproteins (lectins, membrane glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans).
2. Glycolipids: glycerolipids and glycosphingolipids (structure and function).
Signaling Chapter
• Receptors and ligands
• Signal amplification via second messengers
• Signal amplification through MAP kinase cascades
• Signaling abnormalities and related pathologies