Nucleic acids structure and function

Specific Foundation / Core

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have acquired research thinking and the necessary they need the understanding and importance of nucleic acids and the functions they perform

Chemistry and metabolism of nucleic acids. Principles of recombinant DNA. Structure of nucleic acids and nucleotides (ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides). DNA as a storage molecule of genetic information. The primary role of RNA. β-glucositic bond of nucleotides. Biosynthesis and degradation of nucleic acids. Stability of nucleic acids against hydrolysis. Catalyzed-mechanism of basic hydrolysis. Secondary structures of DNA and RNA.– Forms of DNA helix. Double helix, major and minor groove, Α-DNA, Β- DNA, Ζ-DNA, triple helix and its biological role. DNA topoisomers, topoisomerases type I and II, gyrases and mechanisms of action. Helicases and mechanisms of action. Interaction of nucleic acids with other molecules. Intercalators of double helix and their effects. Properties of nucleic acids. Chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior, and separation of nucleic acids. Supercoiled-relaxed DNA. Denaturation-renaturation of DNA. Affinity chromatography of nucleic acids and their applications. Control of Gene experession An overview of gene control, Gene regulatory proteins, Regulation of transcription in procaryotic cells-operons, Regulation of transcription in eukaryotic cells, Posttranscriptional control, Alternative RNA splicing, RNA transport and stability in eukaryotic cells, miRNAs – siRNAs Cell communication Cell response to extracellular signals, Signaling through G-protein-linked cell surface receptors, Signaling through enzyme-linked cell surface receptors, Ion channels DNA damage, repair and recombination DNA damage, DNA damage and cancer, DNA repair, DNA recombination

Nucleic acids, Metabolism, Fuctions

15-10-2015