C9041 Structure and function of eukaryotic chromosomes

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Miloslava Fojtová, CSc. (lecturer)
doc. RNDr. Martin Falk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc.
National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc.
Supplier department: National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 17. 2. to Sat 24. 5. Wed 8:00–9:50 C02/211
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Main objectives: Students will gain a detailed knowledge on chromatin structure, as the carrier of genetic and epigenetic information
In the end of the course, the students will be able to understand current knowledge on molecular basis of epigenetic processes
Student will gain a detailed overview of the structure and function of telomeres, centromeres and replication origins
Learning outcomes
On passing the course, a student will understand principles of arrangement of the genetic information in chromosomes and modulation of its expression by means of epigenetic processes modifying chromatin structure.
Syllabus
  • Lectures are focused on description of chromosomes and their dynamic changes during basic processes of metabolism of genetic material - replication, transcription and recombination. Besides relations to gene functioning, possible and described functions of so called noncoding sequences forming the DNA components of essential chromosome elements - centromeres and telomeres will be discussed.
  • SYLLABUS 1. Eukaryotic genomes: size, composition, structure, complexity.
  • 2. Architecture of the nuclear genome - chromatin.
  • 3. Nucleosome positioning - translational and rotational nucleosome position.
  • 4. What happens with nucleosomes during replication and transcription.
  • 5. Epigenetics - the end of fatalism in genetics. An overview of epigenetic processes and examples of biological functions
  • 6. Molecular principles of epigenetic processes - DNA methylation, posttranslational modifications of histones, histone variants, chromatin remodelling, RNA interference. Methods.
  • 7. Non-histone chromatin proteins
  • 8. Higher-order chromatin structure and methods of its analysis
  • 9. Centromeres - structure and function.
  • 10. Telomeres - structure and function. Examples of current research projects and results.
  • 11. Replication origins and regulation of replication. Methods of mapping replication origins.
  • 12. DNA damage and repair
Literature
    recommended literature
  • SNUSTAD, D. Peter and Michael J. SIMMONS. Genetika. Translated by Jiřina Relichová. Druhé, aktualizované vydá. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2017, xix, 844. ISBN 9788021086135. info
  • T.A. Brown: GENOMES. Bios Scientific Publishers Ltd. 1999,Oxford.
  • Bryan M. Turner: Chromatin and gene regulation. Molecular mechanisms in epigenetics. Blackwell Science Ltd. ISBN 0-865-42743-7
    not specified
  • C.R. Calladine, H.R. Drew: Understanding DNA.Second edition. Academic Press N.Y. 1997
  • FAJKUS, Jiří and Ulrike ZENTGRAF. Structure and Maintenance of Chromosome Ends in Plants. In Telomerases, Telomeres and Cancer. Georgetown, New York: Landes Bioscience, Kluwer Academic, 2002, p. 314-331. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit 22. ISBN 0-306-47437-9. info
Teaching methods
Lectures; analysis of examples of research problems concerning topics of the lectures
Assessment methods
Exam - written and/or oral. The final written test precedes the oral exam in the case of a high number of enrolled students. In that case, to pass the oral exam, >60% of correct answers in the test are required. Both parts of the exam can be taken in English if the student prefers. In the case of a number of enrolled students <20, only the oral exam is conducted.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Lectures will be at Masaryk University Campus, unless otherwise specified. e-mail: fajkus@sci.muni.cz, tel. 549494003
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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