Course in Molecular Biology Leuven, October – November 2002 Program I Basics of molecular biology II Transcription III Translation IV Regulatory pathways V DNA and diseases VI Biotechnology Lesson 1: Basics of molecular biology I The Cell’s Organization II Cell Cycle and Cell Division III Cellular Molecules IV The Genetic Dogma The Cell’s Organization EUKARYOTES PROKARYOTES All organisms: or more cells The animal cell A plant cell A bacterium The Main Functions of the Membrane-bounded Compartments of a Eukaryotic Cell Compartment Main Function Cytosol contains many metabolic pathways protein synthesis Nucleus contains main genome DNA and RNA synthesis Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) synthesis of most lipids synthesis of proteins for distribution to many organelles and plasma membrane Golgi apparatus modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins and lipids for either secretion or delivery to another organelle Lysosomes intracellular degradation Endosomes sorting of endocytosed material Mitochondria ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation Chloroplasts (in plant cells) ATP synthesis and carbon fixation by photosynthesis Peroxisomes oxidation of toxic molecules Compartimentation of the eukaryote cell: various organelles Cell nucleus Contains genetic information: DNA Nucleolus: Ribosome building machine Protein factories in the cytoplasm DNA encodes proteins “Genes” encode proteins DNA replication DNA synthesis and proofreading Replication of eukaryotic chromosomes The replication fork in detail DNA replication can cause mutations DNA repair Mutations: possible cause of diseases and disfunctionalities The Genetic Dogma From DNA to protein Transcription by RNA polymerase RNA vs DNA mRNAs codes for proteins rRNAs forms part of the structure of the ribosome and participates in protein synthesis tRNAs used in protein synthesis as an adaptor between mRNA and amino acids Small RNAs used in pre-mRNA splicing, transport of proteins to ER, and other cellular processes Genes contain introns and exons Presentation: Heredity and inheritance ...Lesson 1: Basics of molecular biology I The Cell? ??s Organization II Cell Cycle and Cell Division III Cellular Molecules IV The Genetic Dogma The Cell? ??s Organization EUKARYOTES... of cell shape and mobility  ancor for other cellular structures Presentation: DNA Cell Cycle and Cell Division Some Eukaryotic Cell- Cycle Times Cell Type Cell- Cycle Times Early frog embryo cells... minutes Yeast cells 1. 5-3 hours Intestinal epithelial cells about 12 hours Mammalian fibroblasts in culture about 20 hours Human liver cells about year The eukaryotic cell cycle Separation of sister