Department of Biochemistry
School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
BCH 408/508 Gene Expression
2 Credits: Spring 2009
Wednesdays 1-2:50 PM, Farber 134B
Course syllabus.
Instructors
Dr. Fred Ponticelli (Coordinator): 649 Biomedical Research Bldg; 829-2473; asp@buffalo.edu
Dr. Lee Ann Garrett Sinha: B3-306 Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics; 881-7995 ; leesinha@buffalo.edu
Dr. Sat Sinha: B3-305 Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics; 881-7994; ssinha2@buffalo.edu
The objective of this course is to familiarize students with up-to-date concepts and experimental approaches used in the study of eukaryotic gene expression. The main focus of the course is the molecular mechanisms involved in RNA polymerase II transcription. Specific topics to be covered will include: i) the roles of cis-acting DNA elements in class II promoter activity; ii) the structure and function of RNA polymerase II and auxiliary factors such as the general transcription factors and transcriptional activator and repressor proteins; iii) the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional activation and repression, notably at the levels of chromatin remodeling, recruitment of transcription machinery to the promoter and transcriptional elongation; iv) the mechanistic coupling of transcriptional elongation with mRNA processing; and v) specific examples of the role of regulated RNA polymerase II transcription in development and cellular differentiation. Each week, 1-2 selected research papers from the scientific literature will be discussed in class, with students taking turns presenting 1 or 2 figures and the instructor providing clarification and/or additional questions as appropriate (review articles are for background and will not be discussed). Grading for the course will be based upon student presentations of figures (50%) and participation in class discussions (50%).
Course schedule, topics and required reading are now located on Blackboard at UBlearns.