Program
Historical aspects : from the discovery of DNA to the genetic code and structure of nucleic acids.
a) Structure of DNA and RNA: nucleotides, conformations of helices A, B , C , denaturation and renaturation of the double helix.
b) Organization of DNA supercoiling , the histone proteins and the levels of organization of chromatin : nucleosome . Analysis of chromatin by enzymatic digestion with nuclease .
c) DNA replication : replicon model , identification of the origin of replication in prokaryotes and eukaryotes : structural and functional characteristics of the proteins involved in the process of replication, Okazaki fragments , the primers , the DNA polymerase I -II-III .

Transcription .
a) The Control of Transcription in prokaryotes . Structure of ”Operon” . Operator Sites and Promoters ( strong and weak promoters ). RNA polymerase and sigma factors .
b ) Repressors and activators : the Lac operon and the operon araBAD
c) The attenuation : the Trp operon .
d) The RNA polymerase in eukaryotes : structure, promoters, initiation, elongation and termination.
e) The eukaryotic mRNA : capping, the tails of poly ( A), mRNA splicing .

Translation
a) The genetic code
b) Transfer RNA : structure, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases , proofreading and correction, the pairing oscillating , the suppressor mutation no sense .
c) Ribosomes : composition, structure , antibiotic inhibitors of protein synthesis.
d ) Beginning the translation: GTP , the Shine- Dalgarno sequence , the initiation codon , the protein factors
e) The elongation : the binding of tRNA , the transpeptidation , translocation , protein elongation factors .
f) Termination
The study of genes : cloning techniques ; the cloning vectors , gene amplification (PCR ) ; DNA sequencing ; analysis of the promoters ( use of reporter genes )
If the course of the pandemic will allows it, practical laboratory exercises will be organized. Participation in the exercise and the performance of a final report will allow you to acquire 1 point in the final grade.The modalities of participation will be provided by the teacher during the course.

Watson,J.D., Baker T.A., Bell S.P. Gann A., Levine M., Losick R. "Biologia molecolare del gene" VIII edizione (2022) Zanichelli

Capranico G., Martegani E., Musci G., Raugei G., Russo T., Zambrano N., Zappavigna V. "Biologia molecolare" II edizione (2022) EdiSES

Amaldi F., Benedetti P. Pesole G., Plevani P., "Biologia molecolare" terza ed. (2018) ed. Casa editrice Ambrosiana


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