MOLECULAR BIOLOGY WITH ELEMENTS OF BIOINFORMATICS

The graduate student, of this master course, through the teaching course “Molecular Biology with Bioinformatic elements”, will be able to apply the molecular biology basic knowledge acquired with the degree of the first level, to drive an experimental approach in research field. In the first part of the course, potentials and application of bioinformatics will be highlighted. In the second part of the course, taking inspiration from a biological topics addressed in the lab of the teacher, the progression of scientific knowledge, through the tools and the logic of biomolecular experimental research, will be teached to the students. At the end of the course, the students' ability to apply their knowledge and understanding will emerge from their ability to use many of the bioinformatic analysis tools available on the web independently, and from their ability to design and develop an experimental approach in the field of Molecular Biology in order to answer the scientific questions. To this end, students will be stimulated in their autonomy of judgement and communication skills through discussion with other colleagues and interlocution with the teacher during lectures and exercises.

The teaching is held with lectures using slides and practical lessons.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Knowledge of Molecular Biology

Attendance of at least 60% of the lectures is mandatory, as required by the degree course in which the course is included.

First part: Bioinformatic programs for global and local sequence alignment; biological significance of sequence alignment; databases screening by alignment programs: FASTA and BLAST; Multiple sequence alignment; Clustal W program; research of structural and functional patterns in nucleotidic and proteic sequences. Genomes projects: bioinformatic methods; sequencing approach; annotations; genomic results and goals. Protein classification; determination of 3D protein structure; protein databases PDB, MMDB, Expasy, Swiss-Prot; protein secondary structure prediction; classification of functional domains; databases SCOP and CATH; protein tertiary structure prediction; homology modelling; threading; Ab Initio prediction. Second part: Molecular Biology techniques application to study VDAC a protein of mitochondrial outer membrane: characterization of VDAC isoforms biological role and identification of aminoacid and protein domains involved in channel functionality. Techniques to study gene function: recombinant protein expression, production and application; site-directed mutagenesis, construction of chimeric proteins by PCR, gene assembly by PCR; generation of transgenic organisms, standard transgenesis, gene targeting. Gene expression regulation mediated by RNA and gene silencing; analysis of gene expression

S. Pascarella, A. Paiardini -Bioinformatica; dalla sequenza alla struttura delle proteine- Zanichelli.
J.D.Watson, A.A.Caudy, R.M.Myers, J.A.Witkowski-DNA ricombinante-Geni e Genomi-Zanichelli.
J.W.Dale, M.v.Schantz, N.Plant-Dai Geni ai Genomi-principi e applicazioni della tecnologia del DNA ricombinante-EdiSES.

Other additional material will be uploaded on Studium platform.

 

The examination mode consists of a written test at the end of the course that will be followed by an oral examination. This mode will be carried out only for the first available examination call after the course of lectures and for students who have regularly attended and reached the minimum attendance threshold. For subsequent calls, learning will be assessed exclusively oral examination.

The learning assessment may also be conducted electronically, should conditions require it.

The questions will focus on topics covered during the lectures.

Example: Which of these methods is NOT used to generate transgenic organisms?: a) standard transgenesis; b) gene targeting; c) conditional gene targeting; d) cloning; e) random mutagenesis