After successful completion of the course, students are able to describe the cell as a chemical system, to explain energetic processes in a cell, to analyse DNA packing in the nucleus, to explicate DNA replication as well as to describe proteins.

1. Components of a cell: from molecules to organelles

2. The cell as a chemical system

• chemical bonds
• acids/bases
• macromolecules: lipids, sugars, nucleic acids, proteins

3. Energy

• chemical equilibrium
• energy carriers ATP, GTP, NADH, FADH₂
• glycolysis
• citric acid cycle
• electron transport chain
• ATP synthesis

4. DNA packing in the nucleus

• DNA double helix
• nucleosomes
• chromatin
• chromosomes

5. DNA Replication

6. Transcription, splicing, RNA interference

7. Translation

8. Proteins

• properties of the natural amino acids
• protein folding
• protein domains
• protein sorting
• synthesis of membrane proteins
• protein glycosylation
• degradation

Presentation and discussion of the subjects with the students.

Literature

Handouts will be offered

oral exam at the end of the term or further along the line on appointment. Estimated duration: 20 minutes

The slides are available as pdf.