Bacterial Genetics 1400-216GENB
Lecture:
Bacterial chromosome: double helix, superhelix, folded chromosome. Histone-like proteins, similarities and differences between histone-like proteins and histones. Proteins HU, IHF and FIS. Principles of DNA replication. Initiation of bacterial chromosome replication, DnaA protein, origin of replication, stages of initiation. Replication fork, movement and enzymes involved in DNA polymerization, template looping. Termination of replication, role of ter sequence and Tus protein. Segregation of chromosomes. Reasons of genetic diversity, mutations and recombination. Spontaneous and induced mutagenesis. Physical, chemical and biological mutagens. Mutagenesis in vitro, examples and methods. Repair of DNA:photoreactivation, BER, NER, repair by recombination, regulon SOS. Homologous recombination, role of RecA and other Rec proteins, models and pathways of recombination. Site-specific recombination, role in gene expression and bacteriophage lambda integration. Plasmids: characteristic, classification, replication and transfer. Transposons and other mobile elements. Horizontal gene transfer. Conjugation in Gram-negative bacteria, plasmid F. Conjugation in Gram-positive bacteria, pheromones. Conjugation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Natural transformation and competence, induced transformation. Generalized and specialized transduction, bacteriophages involved in these processes. Principles of transcription and translation regulation in bacteria: promoters and terminators, positive and negative regulatory factors. Signal transduction. Examples of gene expression manipulation.
Laboratory:
- Transposon mutagenesis by transposon Tn1000 of S.marcescens and E. coli (GFP) strains.
- Induced and spontaneous mutagenesis
- Rec-assay in different E. coli species
- Methods of transduction with P1
- Formation of bacterial biofilms.
- Over-expression, purification and study of interaction of Ata protein with DNA using electophoretic mobility shift assay - EMSA. Cross-linking in the presence of glutaric aldehyd to study the ability of Ata protein to form homodimers.
Type of course
Mode
Requirements
Prerequisites
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Having completed the course and the lab the student:
KNOWLEDGE:
- Has broad knowledge in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology and bacterial genetics.
- Has up-to-date knowledge in the main areas of bacterial genetics including the scientific terminology concerning microbiology and genetics (in Polish and in English).
- Has broad knowledge in planning and performiong experiments in the field of genetics analyses of microorganisms, including his own work.
- Is familiar with the studies concerning cellular macrosyntheses, including genomes flexibility.
ABILITIES:
- Uses molecular genetic techniques enabling the studies of various microorganisms.
- Is able to plan easy experiments M(mutagenisation, overexpression of bacterial proteins, etc.).
- Is able to study on his/her own and focus on the study area.
- Is able to gather and analyze empiric data and draws proper conclusions based on the modern knowledge concerning bacterial genetics.
SOCIAL AWARENESS:
- Is responsible for the research which has been assigned to him/her own and other people's laboratory work, and is responsible for the assesment of the risks associated with the research techniques.
- Is careful and critical when acquiring and interpreting knowledge in microbial genetics and its practical applications.
- Understands the mechanisms (on biological and chemical levels) of replication, recombination, mutagenesis, transcription and translation processes in bacteria.
Assessment criteria
The admission to the exam is determined by attaining a pass from practice by the students who have chosen a lecture and practice lessions. The written module of an exam consist of 16 open-end questions (marked from 0 to 2 points each). In order to pass an exam a student has to obtained 16 points (50% of maximum 32 points possible to obtain).
Practice
The assessment criteria for practice lesions: (i) attendance; (ii) a written control test. In order to pass a student has to: (i) be absent no more than twice per term; (ii) obtain no less than 51% from a written control test. (A written control test consists of 17 short, open-end questions.)
Practical placement
No.
Bibliography
1. Baj J., Markiewicz Z. (eds)" Molecular biology of bacteria", PWN, 2007
2. Węgleński P. (eds) "Molecular genetics", PWN, 2006
3. Brown T.A. "Genomes" PWN, 2009
4. Schaechter M. (eds) "Encyclopedia of microbiology", Academic Press, 2009
Additional information
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