Chapter 1 Introduction to cell biology 1
1.1 What is cell biology? 1
1.2 The cell theory 2
1.3 Cell is the basic unit of life 4
1.4 The prokaryotic cell 7
1.5 The eukaryotic cell 8
1.6 Modern cell biology 11
1.7 The technology of cell biology 15
1.8 Training the scientists of tomorrow 19
Chapter 2 Cell membrane and cell surface 22
2.1 Components and structure of cell membranes 22
2.2 Transmembrane transport 30
2.3 Cell adhesion molecules and cell junction 39
2.4 Extracellular matrix and cell wall 44
Chapter 3 Cytoplasm,ribosomes and RNAs 49
3.1 Structure and functions of cytoplasm 49
3.2 Ribosome 52
3.3 Ribozyme 60
3.4 Non-coding RNA 62
Chapter 4 Endomembrane system,protein sorting and vesicle transport 67
4.1 Overview of endomembrane system 68
4.2 Endoplasmic reticulum 70
4.3 Golgi apparatus 80
4.4 Lysosomes and peroxisomes 83
4.5 Molecular mechanisms of vesicular transport 86
4.6 Secretory pathways 92
4.7 Endocytic pathways 95
Chapter 5 Mitochondria and chloroplasts 99
5.1 Mitochondria and oxidative phosphorylation 99
5.2 Chloroplasts and photosynthesis 108
5.3 The origins of chloroplasts and mitochondria 119
Chapter 6 Cytoskeleton 122
6.1 Microtubules 122
6.2 Actin filaments 129
6.3 Intermediate filaments 137
Chapter 7 Cell communication and signaling 142
7.1 Signaling components 142
7.2 The role of intracellular receptor:signaling of nitric oxide 148
7.3 Signaling through G-protein-coupled cell-surface receptors 149
7.4 Signaling through enzyme-coupled cell-surface receptors 154
7.5 Signal network system 159
7.6 Cell signaling and the cytoskeleton 161
7.7 Cell communication in plants 163
Chapter 8 Nucleus and chromosomes 166
8.1 The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell 166
8.2 The nuclear envelope 168
8.3 The nuclear pore complex 170
8.4 Chromatin and chromosomes 175
8.5 Nucleolus and ribosome biogenesis 186
8.6 The nuclear matrix 191
Chapter 9 Cell cycle and cell division 195
9.1 An overview of the cell cycle 195
9.2 Regulation of the cell cycle 197
9.3 Cell division 206
Chapter 10 Cell differentiation 221
10.1 Introduction 221
10.2 Cells with potency of differentiation 223
10.3 Stem cells 225
10.4 Controls of cell differentiation 229
10.5 The major cell differentiation systems 237
Chapter 11 Senescence and apoptosis 244
11.1 Senescence 244
11.2 Apoptosis 252
11.3 Senescence or apoptosis 260
Chapter 12 Cells in immune response 263
12.1 The immune system 263
12.2 The organs of the immune system 263
12.3 Cells in the innate immune system 266
12.4 Cells in the adaptive immune system 271
12.5 Innate and adaptive immune responses 273
12.6 Immunological memory 283
Chapter 13 Cancer cells 284
13.1 Basic knowledge about cancer cell 284
13.2 Carcinogenesis 288
13.3 The genes involved in cancer 292
13.4 The genetic and epigenetic changes of cancer 295
13.5 Treatment of cancer 299
References 303
Glossary 307