Metabolism and physiology

Coordinators

Loïc Rajjou, Valérie Berthelot, Christelle Loncke

Goals

The intended learning outcomes of this module are to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the major pathways of core metabolism (including carbon and nitrogen assimilation, respiration, energy, ...) and to develop the ability to identify and compare specialised metabolic processes that underpin physiological responses to environmental stresses. Students will also learn to relate these metabolic mechanisms to evolutionary adaptations across biological kingdoms such as prokaryotes, plants, and animals, and to evaluate evidence of metabolic complementarity between them. Additionally, the module aims to cultivate advanced competencies in the critical analysis of scientific literature and in the effective communication of research findings through the preparation and presentation of a scientific poster.

Skills

- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key definitions and fundamental concepts.
 - Articulate coherent reasoning concerning core metabolic pathways and metabolic adaptations to environmental stress across different biological kingdoms.
 - Conduct a critical analysis of a grade-A scientific article.
 - Structure and communicate scientific findings effectively, both graphically (poster) and orally (presentation).
 - Demonstrate scientific rigour, relevance, and critical thinking in the interpretation and presentation of the research.

Content

This unit begins with an introduction to metabolic diversity across prokaryotes and eukaryotes, establishing a foundation for understanding both universal features and key divergences. The central theme of the module is the study of metabolic responses and adaptations to environmental stress, providing a framework for a comparative approach across different biological kingdoms. The programme continues with an exploration of core metabolism, including carbon fixation, respiration, and energy production. These fundamental processes are examined within the context of their role in maintaining homeostasis and physiological performance under changing conditions. A dedicated strand focuses on specialised metabolic pathways, with particular emphasis on responses to oxidative, water, and nutrient stress. Illustrative case studies of metabolic adaptations in extremophilic bacteria, plants, and animals are used to highlight the diversity of evolutionary strategies and to explore the principle of inter-kingdom complementarity. Finally, the module concludes with an overview of modern approaches in metabolomics and integrative biology, which enable the analysis of metabolic and physiological responses to stress across multiple scales, from the cell to the whole organism.

Format

6 Lectures (CM): 9 hours
1 Tools session: 1.5 hours
3 Poster Tutorials (TD): 4.5 hours

The unit employs interactive lectures emphasising cross-kingdom comparisons. Teaching is informed by a multidisciplinary approach, integrating biochemistry, physiology, and evolutionary biology and metabolisms. A significant component involves collaborative work in small groups centred on the research and design of scientific posters.

Language : English

Mandatory TU

ECTS : 2,5

Lectures : 9 ;  Directed Study : 6