Course unit title |
Scientific direction Scientific code |
Faculty |
Department (s) |
|
Chemistry of nucleic acids |
Biochemistry N 004 |
Life Sciences Center |
Institute of Biotechnology |
|
Total number of credits | 6 | |||
Mode of studies |
Number of credits |
Mode of studies |
Number of credits |
|
Lectures |
0 |
Consultations |
0,1 |
|
Self-studies |
5,9 |
Seminars |
0 |
Aims of course |
Advanced understanding of underlying concepts of in Nucleic Acids structure, synthesis, interactions and chemical modifications, especially in relation to biological function and comprehensive techniques. |
|
Main topics |
Chemical structure and nomenclature of NA components; major and minor nucleosides in DNA and RNA. Behaviour of NA in water: base stacking, tautomerism, ionization, base pairing; physical and spectroscopic properties of NA, hyperchromicity. Conformational (torsional) dynamics in (poly)nucleotides: Helical structure of NA, higher-order DNA structure in nucleosomes and chromatin, DNA supercoiling. Helix-coil transition of duplexes, modified bases and polynucleotides (PNA, LNA etc), DNA microarrays and DNA based nanoscale materials. RNR structure, modified nucleosides; tRNA, secondary and tertiary structure, the genetic code, catalytic RNA, ribosome, SELEX. Covalent interactions with small molecules; cleavage of N-glycosyl and phosphodiester bonds, Reduction and oxidation; reactions with nucleophiles and electrophiles; chemicals methods to study NA structure and interactions. Chemical synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Non-covalent interactions with small molecules; Covalent labelling of NA; DNA sequencing; analysis of epigenetic modifications. |
|
Main literature |
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Assessment strategy |
Assessment criteria |
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Seminar presentation |
Duration of the presentation 45-60 min., number of publications discussed during the seminar >30 |
Coordinator(s) Name, Surname |
Pedagogical rank |
Scientific degree |
|
Saulius Klimašauskas |
prof. | dr. | |
Virginijus Šikšnys |
prof. | dr. |
Approved by the Council of Doctoral School of Life Sciences Center No (4.10)600000-KT-… on the 14th of October 2021 |
Chairman dr. Daiva Baltriukienė |