Learning Unit: Cells on the Move
Cindy Jo Arrigo – New Jersey City University
Rebecca Burdine – Princeton University
Jonna Coombs – Adelphi University
Jaclyn Schwalm – Princeton University
David Swope – Rutgers/New Jersey City University
Eugenia Villa-Cuesta – Adelphi University
David Gross – Directional Cue
Quick Review from the Balcony:
Course: Sophomores/Intro level
This Unit: middle of the course – 3 hours of class time total
Our tidbit: At the end of the Unit
The students would have learned the following information during the Unit, prior to this tidbit:
Lagging
edge
http://klemkelab.ucsd.edu/research/cell.html
Leading
edge
Green signal represents Actin
Cell is migrating in direction of the arrow
Learning Unit: Cells on the Move
Learning Goals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Know how migratory cells sense and respond to environmental cues
Understand how migratory cells become polarized
Know how migratory cells move on and interact with the substrate
Understand the importance of cell migration in development and disease
Learning Objectives/Outcomes:
Students should be able to –
Describe a ligand-receptor pathway that can direct cell migration and explain a
potential consequence of dysregulation of that pathway. (LG1 and 2)
Create a diagram illustrating three cytoskeletal differences between migrating and
non-migrating cells. (LG1 and 2)
Compare and contrast cell matrix interactions at the leading/lagging edge of a
cell. (LG 3)
Design an experiment to determine if a specific signal is a directional cue. (LG1-4)
Evaluate developmental and disease processes for the importance of cell
migration. (LG4)
Learning Activity:
Your group is part of an international research and development team
for a pharmaceutical company.
Colon cancer is known to metastasize primarily to the lung and liver.
Your team has isolated a new secreted protein from the liver you call
Roadrunner, that you think may attract colon cancer cells to migrate to
this location.
Design an experiment to test whether
Roadrunner can function as a directional
cue for migrating cells.
Be sure to include what controls you
would need and explain how you would
analyze your experimental results.
One Potential Experiment:
http://people.biology.ucsd.edu/firtel/video.htm
Based on your knowledge of Roadrunner as a directional cue,
and cell migration in cancer metastasis, identify the best protein
to target with a drug to prevent cell migration in this type of
colon cancer.
A) Actin
B) Roadrunner receptor
C) Integrins
D) Fibronectin
E) Roadrunner protein
Homework:
Provide an example other than cancer, where cell migration is important for either
development or disease. Be sure to explain why migration is important in this event
and document your sources properly. Your answer should be no more than a
paragraph, with sources documented below, and submitted through Blackboard or
to your TA by 5pm tomorrow.
Examples from the homework will be selected for sharing with the class.
Rubric
Scored on a 1-3 scale as described below : 3= Meets expectations; 2=
Need improvement; 1= Incomplete
Completion of the
assignment
3- Assignment was a full paragraph edited and clearly written
2- Assignment was either not a full paragraph and/or poorly
edited
1- Assignment was not submitted
Articulation of the
importance
3- Importance is articulated strongly and concisely
2- Importance is hinted at, but not clear
1- Importance is not addressed
Proper
documentation of
sources
3- Sources were credible and documented
2- Sources were provided, but were either not credible and/or
not documented
1- No sources were provided
Ideas for Scaling this Tidbit
Small class <40 –
Tidbit: working groups of 3-4 – could ask for one or two examples
Homework: instructor/TA scan answers and provides feedback
Medium size class 40-100 –
Tidbit: working groups of 3-4 – ask for one or two different answers
Homework: instructor/TA scans answers and provide feedback
Large class 100 + Tidbit: working groups of 2-5 students seated close to each other – ask for
1-3 volunteers, especially that have different answers.
Homework: have peer groups score the responses and rank them