Ateneo - UPO

This course encompasses a series of lectures at the nexus of structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology. An important goal of these lectures, and that of structural molecular biology, is to understand biology in terms of the atoms that carry out its various functions: carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, etc.
The so-termed central dogma of molecular biology: DNA makes RNA makes protein serves as the organizing principle of this course. Biological information flows from DNA to RNA to protein. And information in DNA is also replicated. The central importance of the flow of information in biology is indicated by the rigorous control that cells exercise over the underlying biochemical reactions.
This course will be implemented in so-termed ‘flipped’ mode. Prior to each class meeting, students will review reading material, listen to lecture videos. Class time will be devoted to discussion/questions about the lecture, review of selected portions of the lecture, problems sets

Molecular Biology of the Cell;
Bruce Alberts, Rebecca Heald, Alexander D. Johnson, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter. Editore: W. W. Norton & Company
DonaldVoet, Judith G Voet, Charlotte W Pratt. PRINCIPIDI BIOCHIMICA, 2017. Zanichelli.
Introduzione allo studio delle proteine. Duranti; Zanichelli
Donald Voet, Judith G Voet, Charlotte W Pratt. FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA. IVedizione, 2017. Zanichelli
David L Nelson, Michael M Cox. PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHNINGER. VII edizione, 2018. Zanichelli
Mike Williamson. "Come funzionano le proteine" Edizione Italiana a cura di Martino Bolognesi, 2020. Zanichelli.

The course provides the student with an in-depth study of the fundamentals of structural biology applied to DNA metabolism.

Basic knowledge of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biochemistry.

Lesson ex-cathedra with the slides presentation, and movies. Execution of problems and quizzes in the classroom, discussion on literature data. Students can also use the recommended textbooks to deepen the topics discussed in the classroom

In itinere test will be carried out during the course.

Oral exam on a selected publication to be presented by the student: the questions will aim at evaluating the student's preparation in describing the basic theoretical concepts of the technologies presented during the course and in understanding their application potential. Excellence is achieved when the student proves to have a critical knowledge of the concepts presented in the course

Intro, DNA RNA structural readout
DNA Repair
Kinases/Phosphatases
Transcription
Translation I (basic principles)
Translation II (advanced notions)
DNA Replication (basic principles)
DNA Replication (advanced notions)

The student should be able to argue and discuss the basic principles of the reactivity of biological macromolecules and the structure-function relationship of proteins, in the context of DNA metabolism. The student should also know the reference techniques for the biochemical and structural characterization of biological macromolecules.