• physical/chemical features of RNA molecules
• Prok. transcription
• Prok. Regulation
• Euk. transcription
• Euk. Regulation
• index

Unit organization

The unit is divided into 5 sections:

• RNA-physical/chemical features
• prokaryotic trascription
• prokaryotic transcriptional regulation
• eukaryotic trascription
• eukaryotic trascriptional regulation

Each section is comprised of few video recorded lectures, corresponding to text and figures found in the pages linked to each section, and also some optional recommended reading/seeing/listening links or refs that will be pointed out where appropriate. On the same platform hosting the video lectures and on some of the linked pages exercises and quizzes for self assessment are provided, that should be used to confirm the learning outcomes have been reached.

Students are expected to watch to the recorded lectures or/and read the text version (whichever is more convenient) and explore the links that are provided. Some of the linked pages may also contain exercises that must be solved in order to successfully participate to the group acivities.

List of the Learning Outcomes -
as part of individual (I) or group activity (G) as indicated

By completing this unit you will be able to:

• Physical/chemical features of RNA Molecules

  • (I) - describe the modules of secondary structure of an RNA molecule
  • (I) - relate base modification to secondary structure

• Prokaryotic transcription

  • (I) - describe the structure of a prokaryotic transcription unit
  • (I) - define the concept of polycistronic and relate to function/advantages
  • (I) - list the components of a prok RNA polymerase and relate them to a function of the enzyme
  • (I) - list the enzymatic functions that a generic RNApol must possess to transcribe RNA
  • (I) - define the concept of prokaryotic promoter and its principal characteristics
  • (I) - describe the mechanism to control termination of transcription

• Prokaryotic transcriptional regulation

  • (I) - describe the concept of operon
  • (I) - describe the process of enzymatic adaptation
  • (I) - relate the state of uninduced/induced lacoperon to the state of the repressor protein on DNA
  • (G) - discuss the mechanism of integration of different informations into a single trascriptional event

• Eukaryotic transcription

  • (I) - describe the classes of RNA in the eukaryotic cell
  • (I) - describe the classes of RNApolymerases
  • (I) - describe the structure of the eukaryotic transcription unit for structural RNAs as well as for mRNA
  • (I) - describe the structure of eukaryotic transcripts and explain the concept of nuclear heterogeneous RNA
  • (I) - explain the mechanisms acting to process RNA precursor molecules at 5'- and 3'-ends
  • (I) - describe the types of splicing of RNA precursors into mature RNAs
  • (G) - discuss the biological relevance of each type of modification
  • (G) - explain the "hexon theory of genes" and discuss the relevance of (self) splicing to evolution of eukaryotic genomes
  • (G) - draw connections between telomeres and introns and between cell compartments and splicing

• Eukaryotic transcriptional regulation

  • (I) - describe the structure of eukaryotic transcription machinery
  • (I) - explain the concept of core promoter and describe the types of core promoters pointing out the differences between each other
  • (I) - describe the assembly of the initiation complex and the role of general TF's
  • (I) - relate each class of RNA to a specific polymerase and a specific promoter architecture
  • (I) -
  • (I) -
  • (G) - elaborate on all possible mechanism(s) by which cells are programmed/deprogrammed
  • (G) - Indentify advantages, disadvantages, uncertainties and potential risks of cell re-programming