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The Open University

Nucleic acids and chromatin

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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The course covers the biological role of nucleic acids, molecular structure of nucleic acids, structural aspects of DNA, RNA structure and function, DNA damage, protein-nucleic acid interactions, DNA packaging and chromatin, and chromosomal organization in the eukaryotic nucleus. Students will learn about base pairing, base stacking, DNA twisting, torsional effects, RNA structures, protein-DNA interactions, and chromosome scaffolds. The teaching method includes lectures, readings, and end-of-unit questions. This course is intended for individuals interested in deepening their understanding of nucleic acids, chromatin, and their biological functions.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 The biological role of nucleic acids
  • 1 The biological role of nucleic acids
  • 1.1 Early observations
  • 1.2 Nucleic acids: genetic, functional and structural roles in the cell
  • 1.3 Nucleic acids and the flow of genetic information
  • 2 The molecular structure of nucleic acids
  • 2 The molecular structure of nucleic acids
  • 2.1 The primary structure of nucleic acids
  • 2.2 General features of higher-order nucleic acid structure
  • Base pairing
  • Base stacking
  • 2.3 Analysing nucleic acid structures
  • 2.4 Analysis of nucleic acids by electrophoresis and hybridisation
  • Summary of Section 2
  • 3 Structural aspects of DNA
  • 3 Structural aspects of DNA
  • 3.1 The helical structure of DNA
  • 3.2 Higher-order DNA structures: DNA twisting and torsional effects
  • 3.2 Higher-order DNA structures: DNA twisting and torsional effects (continued)
  • Torsional energy can be taken up by alternative DNA conformations
  • The fluidity of torsional stress along the DNA chain
  • DNA topoisomerases
  • 3.3 Other structures in DNA
  • Triplex structures
  • Quadruplex structures
  • Summary of Section 3
  • 4 RNA structure and function
  • 4 RNA structure and function
  • 4.1 The varied structures of RNA
  • 4.2 The structure of tRNA
  • 4.3 Hairpin formation and micro-RNAs
  • 4.4 Ribozymes
  • 4.5 The use of nucleic acids as targeting agents
  • Antisense regulation of gene expression
  • Aptamers
  • 4.6 Summary
  • 5 DNA damage
  • 5 DNA damage
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 The chemical stability of DNA
  • The loss of a DNA base causes an abasic site
  • The deamination of DNA
  • Ultraviolet irradiation
  • Reactive oxygen species
  • Alkylating agents
  • ‘Bulky’ agents
  • Summary of Section 5
  • 6 Protein–nucleic acid interactions
  • 6 Protein–nucleic acid interactions
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Non-covalent bonding in site-specific binding
  • 6.3 The recognition of specific DNA sequences by proteins
  • 6.4 Non-specific DNA-protein interactions
  • 6.5 Conformational changes upon protein–DNA interactions
  • Summary of Section 6
  • 7 DNA packaging and chromatin
  • 7 DNA packaging and chromatin
  • 7.1 Introduction
  • 7.2 The eubacterial chromosome
  • DNA supercoiling and protein binding in the E. coli chromosome
  • The DPS protein compacts the eubacterial chromosome during stress
  • 7.3 The eukaryotic chromosome
  • The histone proteins
  • The histone fold and formation of the nucleosome
  • 7.3 The eukaryotic chromosome (continued)
  • Nucleosomal DNA packaging into a 30 nm fibre: the role of histone H1
  • Core histone tail modification regulates DNA compaction
  • Summary of Section 7
  • 8 Chromosomal organisation in the eukaryotic nucleus
  • 8 Chromosomal organisation in the eukaryotic nucleus
  • 8.1 Introduction
  • 8.2 Chromosome scaffolds
  • 8.3 Chromosome distribution within the nucleus
  • 8.4 The organisation of the mitotic chromosome
  • Summary of Section 8
  • End of of unit questions
  • Next steps
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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