Short course in molecular biology (2018/2019)

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Course code
4S006213
Name of lecturer
Massimiliano Perduca
Coordinator
Massimiliano Perduca
Number of ECTS credits allocated
6
Other available courses
Academic sector
BIO/11 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Language of instruction
English
Location
VERONA
Period
I semestre dal Oct 1, 2018 al Jan 31, 2019.

Lesson timetable

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Learning outcomes

Fornire agli studenti le conoscenze di base dei meccanismi molecolari inerenti la trasmissione, la variazione e l’espressione dell’informazione genetica.
Alla fine del corso gli studenti avranno acquisito le nozioni fondamentali per la comprensione dei meccanismi molecolari del funzionamento cellulare in organismi procariotici ed eucariotici.

Syllabus

- Genetic information and informational molecules
General introduction and historical hints. The chemical structure of DNA and RNA. Three dimensional structure of DNA. Physico-chemical properties of DNA.
- DNA, RNA and gene structure
Definition of gene coding and regulatory regions. From genes to proteins; messenger RNA, transfer RNA and ribosomal RNA.
- Genome organization and evolution
DNA content and number of genes. Mutations, DNA rearrangement and genome evolution. The organelle genomes. Interrupted genes; introns. cDNA. Gene families and duplication. DNA repeats.
- Transposable elements
Transposition mechanisms and control. Retroviruses and retrotransposones. Transposons.
- Chromatin and chromosomes
Nucleosomes, histones and their modifications. Higher organization levels of chromatin. Heterochromatin and euchromatin. Eukaryotic chromosomes, telomeres and centromeres.
- DNA replication
DNA polymerases. Proofreading activity of DNA polymerases. Replication mechanism in bacteria and eukaryotic cells.
- Introns and RNA splicing
Features of spliceosomal introns. Spliceosome and splicing mechanism. Alternative splicing and trans-splicing. Other kinds of introns: group I and group II introns and tRNA introns. The intron movement. RNA editing. Ribozymes and riboswitch.
- DNA mutation and repair
Spontaneous mutations and mutations caused by physical and chemical mutagens. Pre- and post-replicative repair systems. Recombination in the immunity system cells. Approaches to homologous recombination.
- Regulation of gene expression
Bacterial promoters. The operon. Activators, repressors and coactivators. Signal transductions and two component regulation systems. Eukaryotic promoters. Activators, repressors and coactivators. Gene expression and chromatin modifications. Epigenetic mechanisms.
- RNAs and transcription
Different types of RNA: synthesis and maturation. Bacterial RNA polymerase. Sigma factors. Eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Eukaryotic mRNAs: capping, polyadenylation, cytoplasmic localization. The transcription process in bacteria and in eukaryotic cells.
- Translation
Ribosomes. tRNA structure and function. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis. Initiation in bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Polypeptide chain synthesis and translation end. Regulation of translation.
- Protein localization.

Reference books
Author Title Publisher Year ISBN Note
Jocelyn E. Krebs, Elliott S. Goldstein, Stephen T. Kilpatrick Lewin's Genes XII (Edizione 12) Jones & Bartlett Pub 2017 1284104494
Robert F.Weaver Molecular biology (Edizione 5) McGraw-Hill Education 2011 978-0 073 52532 7
Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff Molecular Biology of the Cell (Edizione 7) Garland Science 2017 0815344643
Nancy Craig, Rachel Green, Carol Greider, Gisela Storz, Cynthia Wolberger, Orna Cohen-Fix Molecular Biology: Principles of Genome Function (Edizione 2) OUP Oxford 2014 0199658579
Harvey Lodish, Chris A. Kaiser, Anthony Bretscher, Angelika Amon, Arnold Berk, Monty Krieger, Hidde Ploegh and Matthew P. Scott Molecular Cell Biology (Edizione 7) Freeman 2012 1464102325
Geoffrey M. Cooper, Robert E. Hausman The cell: a molecular approach (Edizione 6) Sinauer Associates, Inc 2013 978-1-60535-155-1

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral examination.
The final exam will be on two questions concerning any of the topics treated during the course and it is passed if both answers are positive.

Teaching aids

Documents

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2017/2018


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