To provide up-to-date knowledge concerning the structure, organization and function of the plant cell. Upon successful completion of the course, the student is expected to: a) know and recognize the major cellular mechanisms that allow the plant organisms to interact with abiotic or biotic factors, b) understand the correlation between structure and function of plant organisms.

Knowledge: At the end of the course, the student should have gained knowledge concerning the: a) basic characteristics of a typical plant cell, and the cellular mechanisms allowing the interaction of plant organisms with abiotic or biotic factors, b) ontogeny composition of the cell wall and cell membranes, c) ultrastructure, organization, origin and function of the endomembrane system and individual organelles of the plant cell, d) distribution, structure, molecular and chemical composition, assembly, organization and function of the plant cytoskeleton, e) organization structure and function of plastids, f) organization, structure and function of the vacuole, g) methodology used in studying the structure and function of the plant cell, h) polar growth and the establishment of polarity that govern the development of the plant cell, i) special plant cell types, which we encounter in the Plant Kingdom.

Skills: a) Operation of the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), b) TEM specimen preparation, c) Immunofluorescence specimen preparation, d) Conduct up to date scientific literature search, e) Written and oral presentation of scientific information.

Competences: a) Study of the plant cell, b) Critical assessment of scientific information published in Plant Cell Biology, c) Oral and written presentation of scientific information regarding current topics in Plant Cell Biology.

Introduction (2 hours): The typical plant cell. Methods in studying the structure and function of the plant cell

Plant cell (2 hours): Basic characteristics. Evolution, deviations in the evolution

Cytoskeleton (3 hours): Differences of plant and animal cytoskeleton. Distribution, structure, chemical composition, molecular assembly, organization and functions. Plant MAP proteins

Cell division (3 hours): Differences from animal cell division. Diploid and halfploid plant cells. Regulation factors. Doubling and separation of the genetic material. Determination of cell division plane. Antimitotic drug action

Cell wall and the plasma membrane (6 hours): a) Architecture, ultrastructure, origin, biosynthesis, physical and chemical properties of the cell wall, wall modifications during growth and differentiation b) Cell membranes, architecture, ultrastructure, origins c) Cell wall – plasma membrane complexes, plasmodesmata-pits

Endomembrane system (3 hours): Role in cell wall specific metabolites of plant cell composition. Architecture, ultrastructure, organization, origin and function

Vacuolar system (6 hours): a) Architecture, ultrastructure, organization, origin and function. b) Lytic vacuole-Storage vacuole. c) Vacuole role in plant cell survival

Plastids (6 hours): a) Architecture, ultrastructure, organization, origin, function of all plastids b) semiautonomous organelles, plastid division c) plastid differentiation

Mitochondria (1 hour): Plant cell mitochondria peculiarities. Architecture, ultrastructure, organization, origin and function, autonomy and division

Microbodies (2 hours): Peroxisomes of green leaves, glyoxysomes. Architecture, ultrastructure, organization, and source mode

Signal transduction in plant cell (2 hours): Polar growth, establishment of polarity

Special cellular plant types (3 hours): Sieve elements, pollen tubes, epidermal cells, granular formations, root hairs

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There are no prerequisites for the student to choose and attend the course.

The course is offered to Erasmus students: Teaching in Greek language - Exams in English language.

The evaluation process is carried out in Greek language (there is the possibility in English for Erasmus students), with a final examination of the whole course that includes: A written exam with questions of short response, extended-open and closed type. The average grade of Practicals contributes 30% to the final, total, course grade.