Course: Recombinant GFP technologies and their applications

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Course title Recombinant GFP technologies and their applications
Course code KBI/GFPTE
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction English
Status of course Optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Luptovčiak Ivan, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. History. Discovery of fluorescent proteins, their natural sources and biological functions. Principles of bioluminescence. 2. Physical, chemical and molecular properties of fluorescent proteins. Three-dimensional structure and variations in structure as the basis of functional variability. 3. Green fluorescent protein from Aequorea victoria (GFP) and its mutated allelic forms. Changes in spectral properties, photostability and phototoxicity. Types and properties of naturally occurring fluorescent proteins from other species. 4. Spectral properties of fluorescent proteins and their use in cell biology. Maturation of fluorochromes and expression of excitation and emission properties. The problem of dimerization and oligomerization, targeted development of monomeric forms. 5. Molecular biology of recombinant GFP technologies. Cloning, vectors, construction of plasmids for gene transfer. Creation of fusion products of fluorescent proteins. Methods of propagation, isolation and transformation. Sequences of chimeric genes. 6. Passive applications of GFP technologies. Functional fusion of GFP and recombinant expression. Cell markers, reference genes, fusion proteins. 7. Spectrum of use of GFP technologies in various species of organisms. Applications in functional cell studies. 8. Specific tagging of fluorescent proteins for dynamic study of cell organelles. Monitoring the dynamics of organelles and GFP-fusion proteins, subcellular localization, multicolor imaging and colocalization. 9. Use of fluorescent protein technology in plants: preparation of constructs, transformation, expression, detection. Variants of fluorescent proteins for multispectral detection in living cells. Expression of non-toxic markers by non-invasive method in real time. 10. Practical applications of real-time study of living cells: Quantitative analysis of proteins, their interactions and dynamic redistribution in cells by FRET, FLIM, FRAP, FLIP methods. Visualization of molecular interactions in living cells by bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Principle, possibilities of use and application. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. 11. Optical variants of fluorescent proteins and their applications. Photoactivation, photoconversion, photoinduction, time-spectral activation. 12. Genetically encoded fluorescent molecular biosensors: Active application of GFP technologies for sensitive detection of physiological and metabolic cellular changes.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
A comprehensive theoretical basis for understanding what the introduction of recombinant GFP technologies into scientific practice meant for contemporary experimental biology.
Theoretical knowledge of the principle of modern recombinant GFP technologies, their use and practical applications in plant biology.
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Active participation and preparation of a seminar paper (accounts for 30% of the final assessment) and successful completion of a written exam in the form of a test (70% of the final assessment) with a minimum score of 75% for successful completion of the course
Recommended literature
  • Berg RH, Beachy RN. (2008). Fluorescent protein applications in plants. Methods Cell Biol 85.
  • Chudakov DM, Matz MV, Lukyanov S, Lukyanov KA. (2010). Fluorescent proteins and their applications in imaging living cells and tissues. Physiol Rev 90.
  • Sullivan KF. (2008). Fluorescent Proteins. Methods in Cell Biology - Svazek 85.
  • Tsien RY. (1998). The green fluorescent protein. Annu Rev Biochem 67.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (2019) Category: Chemistry courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer