Cell and Molecular Biology for Non-Biologists: A short introduction into key biological concepts

Description

This book introduces the basics of cellular and molecular biology on a basic level including detailed explanations and examples. It lays the foundation for a systematic understanding of biology, which is essential in order to handle big data in biomedical research. Comprehension of what is measured, how it is measured and how to interpret results is a precondition for the development of novel therapies against diseases.Interdisciplinary research benefits from versatile approaches to generate and test hypotheses, which may lead to new discoveries. Therefore, it requires a new generation of biologists from diverse backgrounds - and they need this introduction.This book helps students and experts from e.g. computer science, informatics, mathematics, physics, and related fields or even if you are in sales and marketing and want to have a better understanding of the biology behind certain products. Preface Contents Acronyms 1 Cell Architecture 1.1 Cells and Their Biochemical Composition 1.2 The Cell's Skeleton 1.2.1 Actin Filaments Form Flexible Meshes 1.2.2 Intermediate Filaments for Robustness 1.2.3 Microtubules as Tracks for Intracellular Transportation 1.2.4 Motor Proteins to Position Cellular Cargo 1.3 Organelles of a Cell 1.4 Cell-To-Cell Contacts 1.4.1 Occluding Junctions as Diffusion Barriers 1.4.2 Anchoring Junctions for Adhesion 1.4.3 Gap Junctions for Communication 2 DNA & RNA & Associated Proteins 2.1 Structural Elements 2.2 Organization of Genetic Information 2.2.1 Gene Elements, Histones and Chromatin 2.2.2 Chromosomes, Genes and Heredity 2.3 The Genetic Code 2.4 DNA Replication 2.4.1 Molecular Components Involved in DNA Replication 2.4.2 DNA Recombination to Secure Integrity and Diversity 3 Transcription and Translation 3.1 The Genome is Read and Transcribed 3.1.1 Start the Transcription 3.1.2 Quality Control During Transcription 3.2 Processing of Transcripts 3.2.1 Stop the Transcription 3.2.2 Splice the Transcript 3.3 Transcripts are Translated into Polypeptides 3.3.1 Initiation of Translation 3.3.2 Ribosomal Structure and Function 3.3.3 Protein Folding 3.4 Measuring Cellular Content 3.4.1 DNA Sequence Variants 3.4.2 Omics Data 4 Regulation of Gene Expression 4.1 Transcriptional Regulation 4.2 Regulatory RNAs 4.3 Protein Control 4.3.1 Post-Translational Modifications 4.3.2 Protein Decay 4.4 Epigenetics 4.4.1 Mechanisms of Epigenetic Regulation 4.4.2 Causes and Consequences of Epigenetic Regulation 5 Membranes and Intracellular Transport 5.1 Composition and Assembly of Cellular Membranes 5.2 Targeted Protein Transport 5.2.1 Protein Transport through Nuclear Pores 5.2.2 Unfolding of Proteins for Mitochondria and Chloroplasts 5.2.3 Co-Translational Import into the Endoplasmatic Reticulum 5.3 Vesicular Transport 5.3.1 Glycosylation of Proteins and Quality Control 5.3.2 Exo- and Endocytosis 6 Signalling 6.1 Molecular Switches between On- and Off-State 6.2 Molecules and Physicochemical Properties as Input from the Sender 6.3 Receiving Cues via Cellular Receptors 6.3.1 Ion Channels Maintain the Flow of Ions and Thus Information 6.3.2 G-Protein Coupled Receptors Enable Switching Mechanisms 6.3.3 Enzyme-Coupled Receptors Regulate Complex Processes 6.4 Signal Conversion in Protein Networks 6.4.1 Second Messengers to Spread Information Rapidly 6.4.2 Kinase Cascades for Signal Relay 6.4.3 Transcription Factors Control Gene Expression 6.5 Characteristic Motifs and Behaviours 6.5.1 Signal-Response Curves 6.5.2 Time-Course Curves 6.5.3 Complex Interactions 6.6 Emergent Properties as Output 6.7 Signal Input, Processing and Output Happens on Various Levels 7 Cell Cycle 7.1 Cell-Cycle Model Systems 7.1.1 Cellular Contexts to Study the Cell Cycle 7.1.2 Discovery of Core Cell-Cycle Components 7.2 Checkpoints Regulating the Cell Cycle 7.2.1 The Restriction Point Mediated by Rb and E2F 7.2.2 The DNA-Damage Response 7.2.3 Hyperproliferative Stress 7.3 Conceptual Views on Cell-Cycle Phenomena 7.3.1 Cell Growth as Biomass Acquisition 7.3.2 Cell Division as Biomass Distribution 7.3.3 Find a Balance: Divide et cresce! 7.3.4 A Molecular Cell-Cycle Set-up for Oscillations 7.3.5 The Cell-Cycle Programme 8 Immunology 8.1 Components of the Immune System 8.1.1 Sites and Non-Cellular Substances of Immune Reactions 8.1.2 The Hematopoiesis Tree and Its Branches 8.2 Innate Immunity as First Line of Host Defence 8.2.1 Inflammation and the Complement System 8.2.2 Pattern Recognition: Know Your Enemy 8.3 Adaptive Immunity as Ability to Strike Back 8.3.1 Clonal Selection of Special Forces 8.3.2 Antibodies 8.3.3 Regulation of T Cells for Killing, Help, Memory and Balance 8.3.4 (Auto-)immune Disease 9 Cancer 9.1 Different Types of Cancer 9.1.1 Phenotypic Tumour Development 9.1.2 Causes of Cancer Development 9.2 Pro et Contra Cancer 9.2.1 Immortality and Programmed Cell Death 9.2.2 Molecular Complexity Underlying Cancer 9.2.3 Hallmarks of Cancer 9.3 Combat Cancer 9.3.1 Current Therapeutic Approaches 9.3.2 the Future of Personalized Medicine Glossary Bibliography