Course overview
The aim of this course is to establish a basic understanding of the cellular pathways that produce molecules of biological importance, and to develop practical skills in selected methods for analysing these molecules. Genes, structure, organisation, localization. Chromatin and modelling. Regulation of genes and relationship to transcription. Transcriptional control mechanisms. Transcription factors, basal transcription apparatus. Gene control at distance. RNA structure, splicing. mRNA production and stability. Translation, translation control. Protein folding mechanisms and structure. Protein distribution. Protein signalling. Protein degradation.
Analysing DNA. Understanding recombinant DNA and its relationship to cloning. Protein expression using plasmids. Vectors for DNA. Protein expression systems. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance for protein and DNA analysis; chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for nucleic acid and protein separation and characterisation; X-Ray crystallography as it pertains to the structure of proteins and amino acids; DNA and protein microarrays, principles and current technologies.
Course learning outcomes
- Understanding the structure and chemistry of DNA
- Understanding the structure and chemistry of RNA
- Understanding the structure and chemistry of proteins
- Comprehension of the modes by which DNA is converted into protein both in the cell and using recombinant DNA methods
- Comprehension of the major regulatory pathways that influence the rates at which genes are converted to proteins
- Understanding of how proteins are further modulated to change their function or be directed to different regions of the cell