Module Catalogue 2024/25

BGM3063 : Biochemistry of Gene Expression

BGM3063 : Biochemistry of Gene Expression

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Claudia Schneider
  • Lecturer: Professor David Elliott, Dr Laura Maringele, Dr Amy Vincent, Dr Simon Whitehall, Dr Aikaterini Gatsiou, Dr Yulia Yuzenkova, Dr Sara Luzzi, Dr Jeremy Brown, Dr Gordon Strathdee, Dr Shiney Mathew
  • Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

Common Stage 1 for all BMS students; stage 2 Biochemistry (C700/C701)

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Our understanding of how gene expression is regulated has improved enormously over recent years, and it is now appreciated that the amount of each gene product produced is determined by both transcription and post-transcriptional events up to RNA degradation, which may be generic or specific to some or even individual genes. This module will build on information received by students in the first and second years, developing appreciation of the biochemistry of core aspects of gene expression and its regulation at various levels, and introduce students to original literature associated with the field. The module also aims to develop core skills including data interpretation and exam essay skills.

Outline Of Syllabus

The core module lectures will cover key features of gene expression and associated biochemistry. Topics will be:

1) Overview of the module

2) DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. These enzymes are responsible for the first step in expression of information in our genes – generation of the pre-mRNA transcript. Structure and mechanism of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, key features of eukaryotic RNA pol II, and particularly the C-terminal domain (CTD) of its largest subunit with which it interacts with many factors including the RNA processing machinery.

3) RNA polymerases are highly sensitive to local chromatin conformation, and both the mechanisms for modulating chromatin structure and the regulation of nucleosome dynamics during transcription will be discussed. Gene expression is also affected by methylation of DNA and mechanisms and consequences of this epigenetic modification to DNA will be discussed.

4) The production of mature mRNA via capping, splicing, polyadenylation and editing will be discussed, as will mRNA export form the nucleus. Alternative patterns of splicing, as well as the position of transcription initiation and polyadenylation, yield a huge diversity to the products of gene expression. The importance, mechanisms and regulation of alternative transcript processing will be discussed, as will the links between transcription, RNA processing and downstream events in RNA metabolism.

5) Mechanism and regulation of protein synthesis. Regulation of translation is a much more rapid response than changing transcription patterns, providing cells with a primary response to changing environment: key translational regulatory mechanisms and pathways will be discussed, as will the various pathways through which mRNAs are degraded.
     
6) Non-coding RNAs and ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) play key roles in the cell that extend beyond the standard gene expression pathway, and the importance of these will be discussed.

Complementing the core lectures, a research lecture and a seminar will form the remainder of the taught material. Both of these will be used to enhance the material in lectures, with examples of current research being discussed in the research lecture, and topics related to the course forming the material to be discussed in the seminar.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able to:

i) provide an overview of the mechanisms by which proteins can interact with nucleic acids, and illustrate common and recurrent themes in this.

ii) relate how chromatin organisation and DNA methylation control transcription and how chromatin is reformed after transcription, and discuss the mechanisms of how changes to chromatin organisation and methylation occur.

iii) elaborate the mechanism of RNA polymerase function and how polymerase II integrates transcription with events in RNA processing.

iv) discuss various post-transcriptional steps in gene expression including splicing, translation and RNA turnover.

v) be able to articulate the importance of alternative splicing in expanding the proteome and the key role that this plays and the consequences of errors in splicing for disease.

vi) discriminate between events that regulate RNA function and RNA accumulation.

vii) describe the breadth of involvement of RNA in cell metabolism and its regulation.

viii) integrate information across the module.

ix) place the various steps in gene expression covered in the module into a cell biological context.

Intended Skill Outcomes

On completion of the module students will be able to:

i) appraise current research on the subject of gene expression and its control.

ii) summarise key information from the literature in pictorial and written form.

iii) communicate complex ideas and relationships in written format.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion110:0010:00In Person- In Course Assessment preparation
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture261:0026:00In person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops21:002:00In person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops11:001:00Skills workshop and information on In Course Assessment - in person
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1161:00161:00Writing up lecture notes, revision and general reading
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials introduce the material on the course, delivering the bulk of the key knowledge required, so that students can meet the learning outcomes.

Skills practice sessions are generic, used to support development of core analytical and numerical skills across the curriculum.

Research Seminar workshops will expand on the material presented in lectures and also provide students with the opportunity to practise their critical and analytical skills further. The first session of the course (Introductory Workshop) will include information on the in-course assessments, including the Graphical Abstract and Highlights exercise.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A70Invigilated exam (2 essay from choice of 4)
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prof skill assessmnt1M30Graphical Abstract (2 slides) with highlights (max of 4 bullet points each with 100 words or less
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The essay assesses each student’s knowledge base, comprehension and ability to discuss the subject critically.

The professional skills exercise is designed to test the student’s ability to distil key knowledge from a document (a research paper) into both pictorial (graphical abstract) and written (bullet point) form.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.