Ateneo - UPO

The course covers the main molecular mechanisms involving nucleic acids, proteins, and their interactions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: replication, transcription, translation, and their regulation. It addresses the fundamentals of DNA repair, RNA maturation, epigenetic regulation, and non-coding RNAs. It provides an overview of the main molecular biology techniques.

- Amaldi et al., Biologia molecolare -3° edizione – Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
- Watson et al., Biologia molecolare del gene -7° edizione – Zanichelli
- Alberts et al., Biologia molecolare della cellula, VI edizione – Zanichelli
- Krebs et al., Lewin’ Gene XII – Jones & Bartlett Learning
- Teaching materials distributed during lessons and uploaded on DIR.

The course aims to provide:
• an understanding of the main molecular mechanisms that regulate nucleic acids, proteins, and their interactions;
• knowledge of the main molecular biology techniques;
• the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in other courses and in future practical experiences throughout the study program.

A solid background in biology, biochemistry, genetics, general and organic chemistry is highly recommended.

Lectures and classroom exercises, practical experience in the laboratory.

The material presented during lectures and classroom exercises will be made available on the course's DIR platform.
Any service communications will also be shared through the course's DIR platform.
The teacher will only respond to signed emails sent from the domain name.surname@uniupo.it.
Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can request dedicated services by consulting the following page: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa.

The course includes an exam to assess the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the course program, as well as the student’s reasoning skills. The exam consists of a written test with multiple-choice and open-ended questions. No materials may be consulted during the exam.

• Introduction
- Introduction to molecular biology
- Discovery of DNA and its role in the transmission of genetic information
• Nucleic acids
- Chemical structure
- Physical structure
- DNA topology and DNA topoisomerases
- RNA structure
• DNA replication
- Replication models
- Replication mechanisms
- Telomeres and telomerase
- Replication in the chromatin context
• DNA repair
- Mutations
- DNA repair systems
- Recombination
• The genetic code
- The central dogma of molecular biology
- Structure of the genetic code
- Evolution of the genetic code
- Reading the genetic code
• Transcription in prokaryotes
- The phases of transcription
- Transcription units
- Structure of bacterial RNA polymerases
• Regulation of transcription in prokaryotes
- Transcriptional activators and repressors
- Operons
• Transcription in eukaryotes
- Main differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
- RNA polymerases
- Eukaryotic promoters
- Formation of initiation complexes
- Mediator
- Structure of RNA polymerase II and RNA elongation reaction
• Regulation of transcription in eukaryotes
- Regulatory factors
- Promoter elements
- Structure and domains of transcription factors
- Activators and chromatin
• RNA processing
- Processing of prokaryotic rRNA
- Processing of eukaryotic rRNA
- Processing of prokaryotic tRNA
- Processing of eukaryotic tRNA
- Ribozymes
- Chemical modifications of bases and ribose
- Processing of eukaryotic mRNA
• Splicing and editing
- Mechanisms of splicing
- Regulation of splicing
- RNA editing
• The translation machinery and its components
- Ribosome
- tRNA
- mRNA
• Mechanism of protein synthesis
- The three phases of translation
- Energy balance of translation
- Rate and accuracy of protein synthesis
• Regulation of translation
- General regulation of translation
- Translational regulation of specific genes
- Regulation of mRNA stability and degradation
- mRNA transport and localization
• Post-translational protein modifications and regulations
- Protein stability and processing
- Main post-translational protein modifications
• Epigenetic regulations
- DNA methylation and gene expression
- Chromatin remodeling
• Regulatory roles of ncRNAs
- Main categories of ncRNAs involved in transcription and translation
• Molecular biology techniques
- Techniques for the study and manipulation of DNA
- Techniques for the study and manipulation of RNA
- Techniques for the study and manipulation of proteins
- Techniques for studying protein–protein interactions
- Techniques for studying protein–DNA interactions
- Genome editing techniques

The student will be expected to demonstrate:
1. Knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating nucleic acids, proteins, and their interactions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, with the ability to perform critical analysis.
2. Communication skills through the acquisition of appropriate terminology and the ability to connect the various topics covered.
3. Ability to apply acquired theoretical and practical knowledge in related disciplines.
4. Capacity for learning, including autonomous study, through the review of scientific articles relevant to the course.