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Lecturer(s)
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Berka Karel, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
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Šponer Jiří, prof. RNDr. DrSc.
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Course content
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1. The role of nucleic acids in biology and evolution. 2. Basic physico-chemical terms. Difference between potential and free energy, kinetics vz thermodynamics. 3. Basic molecular interactions in DNA / RNA, base pairs, stacking and spinal variability. 4. Interaction with environment, ions and water. 5. "Promiscuity" of molecular interactions in DNA and RNA, or why we cannot mechanically transfer our experience from one class of molecules to another. 6. Structural properties of DNA double helix? A little more than a regular double helix, and its reading. 7. Biologically, pharmacologically and nanotechnologically important non-canonical forms of DNA, guanine quadruplex and i-DNA. 8. Initiation, elongation and termination of protein synthesis on ribosome. 9. Basic building units and tertiary interactions in functional RNA molecules, structural bioinformatics. 10. Structure, organization and function of large ribosomal subunit: peptidyl transferase. 11. Structure, organization and function of small ribosomal subunit: decoding and antibiotics confusing ribosome. 12. Ribosome as the largest molecular machine and basic principle of function of molecular machines. 14. Molecular aspects of macrolide antibiotics in ribosome exit tunnel and mechanism of resistance. 15. Structure, organization and function of small catalytic RNA molecules. 16. Contemporary view of the origin of life on Earth and in the Universe.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified
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Learning outcomes
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The lecture is focused on explanation of basic aspects concerning RNA and DNA molecules. The lecture does not require special preliminary knowledge and is highly interdisciplinary in order to show the connection of modern science from physical chemistry through biochemistry, structural biology to the basic principles of evolution. Key biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins perform even the finest biological functions, primarily on the basis of their unique three-dimensional (3D) structures. Finding the relationship between primary genetic information and the 3D structure of encoded biomolecules is an essential step in understanding all biochemical processes. The interplay of molecular interactions will be analyzed and their role in different classes of nucleic acids will be identified. The main classes of RNA and DNA molecules will be discussed, with an emphasis on the basic principles of their formation, the relationship between the primary sequence, 3D structure and function, and local and global confirmatory variability. Finally, the discussed topics will be demonstrated in detail on the analysis of the structure and function of ribosomes, as well as other catalytic RNA molecules, and unusual DNA structures such as guanine quadruplexes. The lecture can be continuously adapted according to the students' interest.
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
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Recommended literature
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