BIOL 300 (Fall)
Molecular Biology of the Gene

M W F 13:30-14:30

Instructors:
F. Schoeck (coordinator)
W5/6
(514) 398-6434
frieder.schoeck@mcgill.ca
L. Nilson
N5/8
(514) 398-6448
laura.nilson@mcgill.ca
Workload:
3 credits (3-0-6)
Prerequisites:
BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or ANAT 212/BIOC 212
Content:


This course is designed to provide an introduction to gene structure and function as well as to signal transduction mechanisms controlling gene expression, with an emphasis on recent advances.

I.  Regulation of gene expression
A. Introduction and overview (2 lectures)
          1.  Nucleic acids and gene structure
          2.  Basic transcriptional mechanisms (initiation, elongation, termination)
          3.  Gene structure in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
B. Gene expression in prokaryotes (2 lectures)
          1.  Transcription initiation (RNA polymerase, sigma factors)
          2.  Regulation of transcription by activators and repressors
          3.  Transcription termination (Rho dependent and independent, attenuation)
C. Transcription initiation in eukaryotes (7 lectures)
           1.  RNA polymerase II (holoenzyme, core promoter elements)
           2. General transcription factors and preinitiation complex assembly
           3. Mediator complexes
           4. Enhancesomes and gene expression (example: Interferon β)
           5. Insulators (example: gypsy and su(Hw))
           6. Chromatin, nucleosomes and the histone code
           7. Chromatin remodeling complexes
                a) Histone acetylases and deacetylases (example: Gcn5, HDAC B)
                b) ATP-dependent remodeling complexes (example: Swi2/Snf)
D. Transcription elongation (1 lecture)
E. Review session (1 lecture)
 
II.  Post-transcriptional control of gene expression
A. Processing of eukaryotic pre-mRNA (1 lecture)
  1. Capping, polyadenylation, splicing
  2. Coupling of transcription and processing events
B. Regulation of pre-mRNA processing (2 lectures)
  1. Splice site recognition
  2. Alternative splicing/splice site selection
  3. Transcript attenuation
  4. RNA editing
C) Macromolecular transport across the nuclear envelope (2 lectures)
  1. Nuclear import and export
  2. Regulated transport of transcription factors
  3. Nuclear export of mRNPs
  4. Transport of unspliced transcripts
D) Cytoplasmic mechanisms of post-transcriptional control (6 lectures)
  1. mRNA degradation: decapping, deadenylation, nonsense-mediated decay
  2. mRNA localization
  3. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation
  4. Translational repression
  5. Regulation of translation initiationa
  6. Micro RNAs and regulation of mRNA translation and stability
  7. Feedback regulation of protein folding

E) Processing of rRNA and tRNA (1 lecture)
F) Review session (1 lecture)
 
III. Signal transduction
A. General principles (3 lectures)
  1. Different forms of signaling
  2. Ligand binding to receptors
  3. Intracellular signal transduction cascades
  4. Signal amplification, integration, adaptation, memory, and termination
B. G protein-linked receptors (2 lectures)
  1. Signaling through cAMP (example: fight-or-flight response)
  2. Signaling through ion channels (example: vision)
  3. Signaling through inositol phospholipids (example: CamKII-mediated short-term memory)
C. Enzyme-linked receptors and intracellular receptors (4 lectures)
1. Receptor tyrosine kinases (example: eye development)
2. Integrins (example: upregulation of RTK signaling in cancer)
3. Cytokine receptors
4. Receptor serine/threonine kinases
5. Intracellular receptors
D. Principles of developmental signaling (3 lectures)
  1. Signal memory
  2. Binary signaling (example: Notch signaling)
  3. Gradient signaling (example: Dpp signaling in wing disc specification)
       
Readings:
   
Molecular Cell Biology, 6th edition, 2007, by Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, and others.
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th edition, 2007, by Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter.
   
Method:
   
Three lectures per week
   
   
Evaluation:
   
Mid-term exam; Final exam.
   
 
McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity/ for more information).

Last update: April 2, 2012