Biochemistry

Lectures

• Discussion of the biogenesis and the diverse functions of coding and non-coding RNAs
• Introduction of the different classes of regulatory non-coding RNAs
• Mediation of basic knowledge in RNA-RNA, RNA-DNA and RNA-Protein interactions
• Presentation of current research directions in the field of RNA biochemistry/biology
• Insights into current methodical approaches and applications of RNA biochemistry
• Illustration of the role of RNA in disease and its potential therapeutic applications

Seminar

• Presentation and discussion of a current research-based topic in the field of RNA biochemistry/biology

1. at least two lectures in the field of RNA biochemistry (for a selection see the course catalog at the university portal)
2. one seminar in the field of RNA biochemistry (for a selection see the course catalog at the university portal)

In the seminar a seminar presentation has to be held and registered in Flexnow as an ungraded study achievement (Studienleistung).

Note! If you are not sure what lectures and seminar to select, please contact the person in charge of the module.
The selection may depend on the examiner you choose for the module examination.

30 min oral examination (graded)

Examiner:

• Prof. Dr. Gunter Meister
• Prof. Dr. Gernot L?ngst

• PD Dr. Joachim Griesenbeck

The student can choose one of the examiner.

Please get in contact with the examiner of your choice to arrange a date of the oral examination, than register the examination in flexnow.

• Participation in a current research project of protein biochemistry
• Training in planning, conducting and evaluating experiments
• Training in search of relevant literature
• Getting to know and using modern methods of protein biochemistry and enzymology
• Presentation and discussion of own experimentally gained data

• Introduction into a current research field of the group
• Mediation of basic molecular biological and biochemical applications
• Consolidation of current RNA biochemical methods corresponding to the research project
• Independent theoretical processing of the whole project
• Presentation and discussion of own experimental data in a written and an oral presentation

Module contents

• Functional analysis of chromatin modifying enzymes in vitro and in vivo.
• Characterisation of the chromatin structures and dynamic mechanisms in human and murine cells and as well in the Malaria causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
• Determining the mechanism of sequence specific DNA access in chromatin and characterisation of the genome architecture by high throughput sequencing methods and bioinformatics.
• Functional characterisation of non-coding RNA binding to chromatin.
• Sequence specific binding of non-coding RNA to DNA via the formation of triple helices.
• Quantification of molecular interactions by the microscale thermophoresis method.
• Presentation and discussion of own experimental gained data.

Module components

Laboratory course (6 weeks) with seminar: Chromatin Dynamics and Nuclear Architecture

Module examination

Portfolio examination (graded)

Module contents

• In vivo, ex vivo and in vitro experiments to study ribosome biogenesis in the model organism S. cerevisiae and in archaea, for example
• Analysis of the RNA polymerase I transcription machinery
• Analysis of rDNA chromatin
• Assembly of pre-ribosomes
• Possibilities exist to use cellbiological, genetic and biochemical approaches to analyse synthesis and processing of RNA, structure and function of chromatin as well as mass spectrometric proteom analyses
• Presentation and discussion of own experimental gained data

Module components

Laboratory course (6 weeks) with seminar:

• Ribosome Biogenesis (Griesenbeck, Milkereit)
• Structural Biochemistry (Engel)

Module examination

Portfolio examination (graded)