Transporter and cell volume regulation in health and disease (U03299)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : BMS-4-PYtrans

The regulation of cell volume and composition is essential for optimal function and survival of all animal cells. Transporters play key roles in these processes so that investigating how these operate, interact with each other, and are regulated is vital to understanding many aspects of biology and medicine. Of particular interest are the ways in which cell volume is sensed and how this information is relayed by signal transduction pathways to transport systems to bring about appropriate changes in cell composition and thus in cell volume. Defects in these processes cause diseases such as sickle cell disease, hypotension and hypertension. Furthermore, volume changes are integral parts of cell growth and proliferation, and of cell death by apoptosis and necrosis. Transporters and their regulatory machinery are important targets for drugs such as the cardiac glycosides and diuretics and current work is exploring the development of compounds that modify transporters for the treatment of a variety of diseases including sickle cell disease and malaria. In this course we will examine how animal cells regulate their composition and volume, the transport mechanisms involved, and discuss current theories about how cell volume is sensed and how the information is relayed to the transporters. We will examine these processes in healthy cells and explore their significance in pathophysiology. We will also study the methods used to measure cell volume and composition and the movement of molecules associated with transport systems. Teaching will be in the form of lectures, seminars, methods workshops and student-led presentations and discussions.