Ateneo - UPO

Knowledge of the structure and the molecular mechanisms that regulate the cellular functions of animal cells.

Molecole,Cellule e Organismi- Ginelli Malcovati, ed. EDISES
Biologia Molecolare della Cellula – Alberts et al., ed. Zanichelli

To train students to use the scientific method to understand the molecular basis of the physiological and pathological behavior of living organisms.
Provide the knowledge that allows the student to independently and critically describe the phenomena involved in the control of cell growth and gene expression. Train the student to communicate what has been learned by written and/or oral presentations

those expected by the admission test to the programmed course

lectures, exercitations and on line education

available at https://www.dir.uniupo.it/

The exam consists of a written test and an oral test. The written test consists of: 45-55 multiple choice questions to verify that the student has acquired the notions required by the course program; 5-15 open-ended questions to test the student's ability to integrate, apply and communicate what has been learned.
The correct answer to the multiple choice question is worth 0.5 points, there is no penalty for incorrect answers. The free answer can be worth up to 3 points.
With the oral exam the critical and communicative skills of the student are verified.
In addition, self-assessment tests and exercises on the DIR platform are available

BASIC MOLECULES OF THE CELL
Monomers and polymers: lipids, sugars, proteins, nucleic acids.
PROTEINS
Amino acids, primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures.
NUCLEIC ACIDS
Structure of nucleic acids. Composition, structure, topology. Chargaff rule. The flow of information. Colinearity between nucleotide and polypeptide sequences. Genetic code.
DNA as genetic material: experiments by Griffith, McLeod, McCarthy, Hershey and Chase. DNA denaturation and renaturation kinetics. RNA: importance of structural differences compared to DNA.
CHROMATIN
Chromatin structure in eukaryotes: constituents, organization and functional units. Histone and non-histone proteins: conservation and chemical-physical characteristics. Histone H1. Notes on the human genome project. Complexity of the eukaryotic genome. Repeated sequences. Unique sequences. Discontinuous organization of coding sequences
DNA REPLICATION
Semiconservative replication: Meselson-Stahl experiment. Bidirectionality of Replisome replication: constituents and phases. Conditions that affect DNA synthesis. Kinetics of replication: leading and lagging strand. Helicases. Before Yes. Thermo-stable DNA polymerases. Topoisomerases: types and functions. Telomerase. Multiple origins of replication in eukaryotes. Synthesis and distribution of new histones. Mitosis and Meiosis.
MUTATIONS AND DNA REPAIR
Duplication fidelity: importance of synthesis directionality, proofreading. Chemical and physical mutagens. Mutations: point: insertions and deletions. Post-replicative DNA repair mechanisms.
TRANSCRIPTION
Constituents and phases of transcription. Distinctive characteristics and specificity of RNA polymerases. Synthesis of structural RNAs and mRNAs. Maturation of primary transcripts: capping, polyadenylation, editing, splicing. Significance of maturation mechanisms: SnRPs and splicesome. Transcription inhibitors. Stability of transcripts. Alternative splicing and editing.
TRANSLATION
Constituents and phases of translation. Structure and function of the ribosome. Structure and function of tRNA. Meaning of suppressors. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. Protein synthesis inhibitors: antibiotics and toxins. Polyribosomes. Sorting of proteins to the various sub-cellular and extra-cellular compartments: glycosylation, palmitolation, isoprenylation. GPI again.

ELEMENTS OF CELLULAR BIOLOGY
CELLULAR MEMBRANES
Structure and characteristics of cell membranes: plasma and the most important sub-cellular compartments. Nucleus. Cellular organelles: mitochondria, RER, REL, Golgi, lysosomes. Involvement of these in protein sorting, post-translational modifications and cellular metabolism. Transport mechanisms across cell membranes: plasma, nuclear and sub-cellular. Exocytosis and endocytosis. Examples of lysosomal pathologies.
CYTOSKELETON
Composition and characteristics of the most important cytoskeletal structures: microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules. Examples of organization and function of cytoskeletal structures: myofilaments. Examples of organization and function of cytoskeletal structures: microtubulin organization centers, axonal transport, cilia, flagella, mitotic spindle, neurofilaments. Nuclear matrix. Reconstitution of the nuclear membrane. Involvement of cytoskeletal structures in the phenomena of migration and invasiveness.
CELL-CELL AND CELL-EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX INTERACTIONS
Ca++ dependent interactions: cadherins, homophily, catenins. Independent Ca++ interactions: CAM, notes on morphogenesis, Wallerian degeneration. Pemphigus Composition and structure of the extra-cellular matrix. Collagen: chemical-physical and functional characteristics of the different collagens. Common collagenopathies. Elastin, glycosoaminoglycans, fibronectins, laminins. Integrins.
CONTROL OF THE CELL CYCLE
Role of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in the regulation of the cycle. Genetic approach: ts cdc mutants in yeast. Cellular necrosis and apoptosis.

To satisfy the minimum level of knowledge, the student has to:
- know the structure of the animal cell,
- distinguish cell constituents and their basic functions;
- know the basic mechanisms involved in gene expression regulation;
- know how to apply the scientific method;
- know how to identify and find data and informations necessary for learning;
- be able to express themselves, both in oral and written form;
- be able to read, understand and comment on technical material from books, manuals or other sources;
To achieve an advanced level, the student must:
- be able to integrate basic knowledge to explain complex cell phenomena;
- propose how to intervene on one or more cellular mechanisms in order to modify specific cellular functions.