C7003 Molecular mechanisms of translation

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Petr Těšina, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Gabriel Demo, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Petr Těšina, Ph.D.
National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Completion of basic courses of biochemistry and/or molecular biology is a prerequisite for subscription to the course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course introduces students to one of the key mechanisms of gene expression: translation, the process by which proteins are synthesized in living organisms. Students will learn the basics of ribosome structure, which will serve as a foundation for exploring various translation regulation pathways.
Learning outcomes
The lecture provides a comprehensive overview of translation in both bacteria and eukaryotes. The first half focuses on the ribosome as the core component of translation, covering its structure and the three main stages: initiation, elongation, and termination. The second half delves into specific translation regulation mechanisms, presenting students with the latest scientific insights, supported by relevant structures and the newest research publications.
Syllabus
  • This lecture will guide you through one of the most fundamental processes in cell biology, by which proteins are synthesized in all domains of life. From the complex interplay of mRNA, tRNAs, and ribosomes to the dynamic regulatory networks driving translation, each lecture is designed to reveal the molecular mechanisms that govern protein synthesis in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The course begins with a general overview of information transfer from DNA to protein, followed by an analysis of the translational machinery in bacteria and an examination of the unique properties of prokaryotic systems. Furthermore, the more complex interplay between various cellular factors in eukaryotes will be included, painting a portrait of eukaryotic protein synthesis. The course also introduces the phenomenon of viral hijacking of the host translation machinery providing an introduction into host-pathogen interactions. In addition to textbook knowledge presented in the first half of the course, we will expose the participants to the state-of-the-art in translational research showing recent progress enabled by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) or tomography (cryo-ET). These structural approaches will also be introduced. In the second half of the course, we will focus on co-translational processes such as sorting, quality control, mRNA decay and reading frame maintenance.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ALBERTS, Bruce, Alexander JOHNSON, Julian LEWIS, David Owen MORGAN, Martin C. RAFF, Keith ROBERTS and Peter WALTER. Molecular biology of the cell. Edited by John H. Wilson - Tim Hunt. Sixth edition. New York, NY: Garland Science, 2014, xxxiv, 134. ISBN 9780815344322. info
  • LODISH, Harvey F. Molecular cell biology. 7th ed. New York: W. H. Freeman, 2013, xxxiii, 11. ISBN 9781429234139. info
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
The exam or colloquium will be conducted as a written multiple-choice test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/C7003