Learning objectives
Students will acquire essential knowledge of the molecular bases of biology, with particular reference to prokaryotic organisms: the organisation and transmission of genetic information, the mechanisms underlying gene expression and its regulation. The course will be completed by a description of some of the main techniques of molecular biology with particular attention given to topics of biomedical relevance.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in the field of general biology.
Course unit content
MOLECULES OF BIOLOGICAL RELEVANCE <br />
Covalent bonds and non-covalent interactions. <br />
Sugars and polysaccharides. <br />
Nucleotides and nucleic acids. <br />
Lipids. <br />
Amino acids and proteins: structure and function. <br />
<br />
THE FLOW OF GENETIC INFORMATION <br />
The central dogma of molecular biology. <br />
The structure of nucleic acids. <br />
The genetic code and genes. <br />
Organisation of DNA, differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. <br />
<br />
THE MOLECULAR BASES OF THE FLOW OF GENETIC INFORMATION <br />
DNA replication: the concept of semiconservative replication, DNA polymerases, replication in vivo, helicase, telomeres and telomerase. <br />
Mutations: principles, gene, genome and chromosome mutations, mutations in eukaryotes, sickle cell anemia, mutations at the DNA microsatellite level, expansion of triplet repetitions. <br />
Transcription of DNA: RNA polymerase, stages of transcription, prokaryotic promoters and the concept of consensus sequences, eukaryotic promoters and general transcription factors, maturation of mRNA, alternative splicing, RNA degradation, reverse transcriptase. <br />
Translation: eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNA, tRNAs, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ribosomes, stages of protein synthesis. <br />
The post-translation destiny of proteins: sorting, protein synthesis in RER, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, protein folding, post-translation modifications of proteins. <br />
<br />
CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION <br />
Factors which influence gene expression. <br />
Protein-DNA interaction: structural motifs. <br />
Regulation of transcription in prokaryotes: force of promoters, negative and positive regulation of transcription, activators and repressors, regulation of transcription by extracellular signals: the lac operon (the lac repressor and the CAP protein) and the Trp operon. <br />
Regulation of transcription in eukaryotes: chromatin remodelling and HAT/HDAC, activators: structure and mechanism of action, proximal control elements and enhancers. <br />
DNA repair, recombination and transposition. <br />
<br />
TECHNIQUES OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY <br />
Recombinant DNA. <br />
Cloning: properties of plasmid cloning vectors, restriction enzymes, ligases, genome and cDNA libraries. PCR. <br />
DNA sequencing using the Sanger method. <br />
Cloning in expression vectors: properties and applications of expression vectors. <br />
Production of recombinant drugs. <br />
Transgenic plants. <br />
<br />
THE MOLECULAR BASES OF THE FLOW OF GENETIC INFORMATION <br />
DNA replication: the concept of semiconservative replication, DNA polymerases, replication in vivo, helicase, telomeres and telomerase. <br />
Mutations: principles, gene, genome and chromosome mutations, mutations in eukaryotes, sickle cell anemia, mutations at the DNA microsatellite level, expansion of triplet repetitions. <br />
Transcription of DNA: RNA polymerase, stages of transcription, prokaryotic promoters and the concept of consensus sequences, eukaryotic promoters and general transcription factors, maturation of mRNA, alternative splicing, RNA degradation, reverse transcriptase. <br />
Translation: eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNA, tRNAs, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ribosomes, stages of protein synthesis. <br />
The post-translation destiny of proteins: sorting, protein synthesis in RER, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, protein folding, post-translation modifications of proteins. <br />
<br />
CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION <br />
Factors which influence gene expression. <br />
Protein-DNA interaction: structural motifs. <br />
Regulation of transcription in prokaryotes: force of promoters, negative and positive regulation of transcription, activators and repressors, regulation of transcription by extracellular signals: the lac operon (the lac repressor and the CAP protein) and the Trp operon. <br />
Regulation of transcription in eukaryotes: chromatin remodelling and HAT/HDAC, activators: structure and mechanism of action, proximal control elements and enhancers. <br />
DNA repair, recombination and transposition. <br />
<br />
TECHNIQUES OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY <br />
Recombinant DNA. <br />
Cloning: properties of plasmid cloning vectors, restriction enzymes, ligases, genome and cDNA libraries. PCR. <br />
DNA sequencing using the Sanger method. <br />
Cloning in expression vectors: properties and applications of expression vectors. <br />
Production of recombinant drugs. <br />
Transgenic plants. <br />
Bibliography
J.D. Watson et al. Biologia Molecolare del Gene. 5th edition. Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
<br />
B. Alberts et al. L’essenziale di Biologia Molecolare della Cellula. 2nd edition. Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
<br />
L.A. Allison. Fondamenti di Biologia Molecolare. Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
<br />
T.A. Brown. Biotecnologie Molecolari: Principi e Tecniche. Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
