Prior course work in development and in molecular biology is strongly recommended. Dan Goldman and David Turner. Each module is under the aegis of a different department and can be taken separately, but the course is designed to cover a logical progression from prokaryotic transcriptional control, to eukaryotic transcriptional machinery, to higher order gene regulatory networks. Topics covered will include the structure of eukaryotic genes and their promoter and regulatory regions, the structure and mechanisms of action of RNA polymerases and gene specific transcription factors, messenger RNA processing, chromatin structure and the regulation of gene expression through chromatin modifications. The key kinetic and thermodynamic concepts that govern the action of enzymes, and the thought processes required to deduce catalytic and kinetic mechanisms will be explored.
Physical chemistry is recommended.
The goal will be to develop in the students an understanding both of the logic and the methodologies behind current studies of protein targeting and localization. Writing and evaluation of proposals will be particularly valuable to students who will be expected to prepare and defend a research proposal as part of their Ph.D. qualifying exams. The course will carry two credit hours and will meet once a week for approximately 2 hours. It is expected that most students taking this course will be first or second year graduate students although more advanced students with an interest in this area of research will not be excluded. Dusanka Deretic, Vojo Deretic, Robert Fuller and Randy Kaufman.