C3901 Molecular mechanisms of cell ageing

Faculty of Science
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium), z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Petra Procházková Schrumpfová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Šárka Schořová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Petra Procházková Schrumpfová, Ph.D.
National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Students should have elementary knowledge of molecular or cellular biology.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 40 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course is focused on the hallmarks of ageing in different organisms, with special emphasis on the molecular and cellular bases such as: deficiencies in DNA repair mechanisms in aged cells, mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere shortening, cellular senescence, alterations in epigenetic marks, loss of proteostasis, microbiome alterations, beneficial effects of dietary restriction in longevity etc. At the end we will discuss anti-ageing medicine.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to explain hallmarks of ageing especially in human cells and also understand molecular mechanism of ageing in various model organisms. Each chapter starts with a short overview of the discussed issue (e.g. repair mechanisms of DNA lesions, mitochondial or telomere functions, what is epigenetics and DNA / histone epigenetic modifications) followed by a closer description of the interconnection between the discussed topic and cellular ageing. At the end students will be able to understand the mutual interconnection of discussed chapters.
Syllabus
  • ageing in human population
  • ageing in different organisms
  • ageing and cancer
  • theories of ageing
  • stochastic nature of the ageing process
  • programmed theories of ageing
  • damage-based theories of ageing
  • progeroid syndromes
  • protein oxidation in ageing
  • nuclear architecture in ageing
  • telomere attrition
  • mitochondrial dysfunction
  • cellular senescence
  • epigenetic alterations v loss of proteostasis v caloric restriction
  • stem cell exhaustion
  • altered intercellular communication
  • the influence of the microbiome to ageing
  • anti-ageing medicine
Literature
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, presentations by professionals in the ageing field
Assessment methods
for passing the colloquium the written test on 5-issues is needed, for passing the examination the written test is needed, the test consists of 20 questions, 50% of correct answers is needed to pass
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2020/C3901