BIMM110      LECTURES 1 - 3

 

 

 

A. Introduction to the Course

 

B. Molecular/Genetic Technology – Review

 

 Textbook: Pasternak ; Chapters 4 and 5

SLIDES(1), SLIDES(2), SLIDES(3)

(PASSWORD PROTECTED: YOU MUST OBTAIN THE PASSWORD TO ACCESS SLIDES)

 

The following subjects should be familiar to you:

 

Chapter 1: DNA Structure and Gene Expression

-         structure of DNA

-         structure of RNA

-         DNA replication

-         Transcription

-         Splicing (exons and introns)

-         5’ and 3’ UTRs of mRNA

-         poly(A) tails of mRNA

-         translation of mRNAs

 

- the material in chapters 5 and 6:

 

- in every case you should understand a basic principle, and also know precisely what the ultimate objective of a method is
            characterizing DNA sequence

            making lots of DNA of a particular sequence (gene)

            finding out if a gene is expressed and how much

            finding out whether a particular protein is expressed and how much

            how does the change of a single amino acid (mutation) affect the function of a protein

            what is a genomic library

            what is a cDNA library

 

  1. Restriction mapping

a)      restriction enzymes

b)      electrophoretic analysis: regular gels and FIGE (pulsed field)

 

 

  1. Restriction fragments

 

a)      restriction fragments from DNA of an organism

b)      cDNA fragments with added ends containing restriction sites

 

  1. Nucleic acid hybridizations

a)      denaturation and renaturation of DNA; melting curves, Tm

b)      conditions, stringency

c)      annealing

d)      tolerance for mismatches

e)      probes: radioactive and nonradioactive

f)        detection: autoradiography, x-ray film, non-radioactive methods (chemiluminescence, fluorescence)

g)      dot blots

h)      Southern and Northern blots

i)        microarrays

 

  1. Vectors for cloning

 

a)      plasmid vectors

b)      phage/cosmid vectors

c)      retroviral vectors

d)      yeast artificial chromosomes

 

  1. Expression vectors

a)      amplification in host A requires origin that is operative in A and selective marker

b)      expression in host B requires appropriate choice of promoter, poly(A) site,

c)      transient vs permanent/stable expression from expression plasmid; may require selective marker

d)      use of internal ribosomal entry sites to make polycistronic transcripts

e)      inducible systems

f)         

  1. Transfections into different host cells

a)      expression in bacteria to make large amount of protein

b)      expression in mammalian cells to study function and other biological questions

c)      transient vs stable transfectants

d)       

  1. Northern analysis

a)      preparation of RNA and electrophoresis

b)      preparation of specific probe

c)      transfer/blotting and hybridization

d)      wash

e)      detection systems

f)         

  1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

a)      sequence must be known

b)      selection of primers

c)      steps n the cycle

d)      overhanging ends of A

e)      incorporation of restriction sites into the primers

f)         

  1. Site-directed mutagenesis

 

  1. Western blotting

a)      SDS PAGE

b)      BN gel electrophoresis

c)      Transfer to “paper”

d)      Detection with specific antisera