CCC Summer Course | July 18- 29, 2022

Course Directors:

Diana Chu, chud@sfsu.edu

Mark Chan, yhmchan@sfsu.edu

Team leads:
Mary Mirvis, Postdoc Marshall lab, UCSF
Ben Larson, Postdoc Marshall lab, UCSF
Zheng-Hui He (PI SFSU)

Brian von Herzen (CCC affiliate)
Ivan Anastassov (PI SFSU)
Wallace Marshall (PI UCSF)

Peer mentors:
Nicholas Chu
Lela Legesse
Ramon Rodriguez
Amayrani Villegas
Peter Chudinov
Lilibeth Acuna

Project descriptions:
1) Organelle arrangement and architecture (REMOTE), Mary Mirvis, Postdoc Marshall lab, UCSF:
Eukaryotic cells have organelles that perform specialized chemistries that affect cellular function. The CCC is interested in how to engineer these structures for real-world applications like  biochemical synthesis and understanding disease. Utilizing the latest advances in imaging and computational analysis, we will be examining the internal architecture of cells and their organelles using high-resolution microscopy data. Our group will tackle original questions about how cells and their organelles are arranged, and in particular how organelles interact within the cell, while learning image analysis of 3D structures using ImageJ/FIJI and Python.

2) Behavior without a brain (REMOTE), Ben Larson, Postdoc Marshall lab, UCSF:
Although it is easy to get the idea that cells are simple, stupid building blocks of more complex and interesting organisms, single cells can display sophisticated–even animal-like–behaviors that allow them to navigate complex environments, find food, and avoid predators. How can they do this without any kind of nervous system? We will investigate how the unicellular ciliate Euplotes, which uses its leg-like appendages to walk across surfaces, explores its aquatic environment. Our questions include: How complex are the movement patterns of Euplotes? Can we detect distinct behaviors or behavioral states? How can we best predict what cells will do from one moment to the next? Answering these kinds of questions will be an important step toward eventually engineering cellular behavior. This project will offer an opportunity to learn about image analysis and how to apply quantitative methods, especially for trajectory and motility analysis, in cell biology.

3) Investigating Peroxisomes in Seaweeds (IN-PERSON), Zheng-Hui He (PI SFSU) and Brian von Herzen (CCC affiliate):
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and industrial cow farming is a major producer of methane. Recently, seaweeds have been used as an additive to cow feed because the bromoform compound they produce is effective in reducing methane emission in cows. Inside seaweed cells, bromoform is stored in peroxisome organelle structures. This CCC summer lab course aims to identify specific seaweed species along the CA coast that display large peroxisomes. Participants will collect seaweed samples from the field, culture seaweeds, genotype seaweeds, screen and analyze seaweed peroxisomes. Both molecular and biochemical approaches will be utilized in the study.

4) Synaptic vesicle structure during adaptation in retinal cells (IN-PERSON), Ivan Anastassov (PI SFSU): Most vertebrates have multiple types of light-sensitive neurons, but a cartilaginous fish called Little skate only has one type of rod cells. Interestingly, skate rods function over the full range of lighting conditions that requires multiple rod types in other vertebrates. The project in this CCC summer lab course will focus on the examination of particular rod cellular structures, called “synaptic ribbons” and their associated synaptic vesicles, both of which help transmit visual signals between cells. We will determine how these cellular structures change as cells adapt to different lighting conditions. Participants will use electron/confocal microscopy and sectioning instruments at the Electron Microscopy Facility at SFSU and the Anastassov lab.

5) Computation by Cells (IN-PERSON), Wallace Marshall (PI UCSF): We usually think of behavior and decision making as requiring a brain, but many unicellular organisms are able to perform sophisticated behaviors, solve problems, and learn from past experience.  In this module, we will explore the ability of cells to perform cognitive and computational tasks using the giant ciliate Stentor.  We will invent our own equipment to probe how cells learn and behave, so that students will gain experience not only with cell biology but also with electronics, data analysis, and building laboratory apparatus.  The project will include field trips to collect specimens from Golden Gate park, and discussions about the implications of unicellular cognition for the philosophy of mind.