Aims

1. to provide information on, and explanations of, the mechanisms by which diverse proteins interact with nucleic acids
2. To introduce students to the original literature in the field and enable them to summarise and explain such publications to their peers.

Original Summary:
Many of the most significant cellular events such as DNA replication, transcription and recombination, the specific switching on and off of genes, DNA methylation, DNA restriction, RNA splicing, ribosome assembly and protein biosynthesis are mediated through the precise interactions of sets of proteins with nucleic acids. These interactions are of tremendous medicinal importance and when aberrant are often the causes of diseases such as cancer. Furthermore many of the proteins and enzymes that interact with nucleic acids (e.g. restriction endonucleases and DNA polymerases) are of crucial importance in the biotechnology industry. The high academic, therapeutic and industrial significance of protein-nucleic acid interactions provides the rational for their study.

Topics encountered in this course include: A, B and Z-DNA families; the helix-turn-helix motif; the use of beta-ribbons to interact with DNA; zinc-finger DNA binding proteins; the leucine zipper motif and the related helix-loop-helix structure, restriction endonucleases; DNA methylation; base flipping and DNA repair; RNA structure and RNA binding proteins; chromatin structure and function, chromatin binding proteins.

In course assessment (worth 20% of the module mark) is a tutorial for which the student prepares a review of one of the common techniques used to study protein-DNA interactions. The remaining assessment is by a written examination.

Outline Of Syllabus

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Teaching Rationale And Relationship

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Assessment Rationale And Relationship

FMS Schools offering Semester One modules available as ‘Study Abroad’ will, where required, provide an alternative assessment time for examinations that take place after the Christmas vacation. Coursework with submissions dates after the Christmas vacation will either be submitted at an earlier date or at the same time remotely.

The form of assessment will not vary from the original.