Universidad de Jaén

Theoric curriculum

1. Overview of regulation and integration of metabolism.
2. Signals transduction systems. Pathways based in cAMP, inositol polyphosphate, diacilglicerol, calcium, tyrosine quinases, cGMP, nitric oxide and steroids hormone.
3. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and nitrogenous compounds and its regulation. Glycolisis and gluconeogenesis. Metabolism of glycogen. Pentose phosphate pathway. Lipid transport. Biosynthesis and catabolism of fatty acids. Biosynthesis of cholesterol. Metabolism of nucleotides. General aspects of amino acids metabolism. The urea cycle. Overwiev of the catabolic and anabolic pathways of amino acids.
4. Regulation of gene expression. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: Overview of gene regulation in prokaryotes . Lactose operon. Arabinose operon. Tryptophan operon. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: General aspects of gene regulation in eukaryotes. Eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Transcription factors. Chromatin structure and gene expression. Post-transcriptional regulation.
5. Protein folding, maturation, sorting and degradation. Mechanisms of protein folding: isomerases and chaperones. Post-translational modifications of proteins. Protein-sorting pathways. Protein degradation: The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and lysosomal proteolysis.
6. Methods for the study of  gene and protein expression level. Proteomics. Northern-blot. PCR. Real-time PCR. RNase protection assay. In situ hybridization. DNA arrays. Western-blot and proteomic

Laboratory practice

Effect of starvation on rat-liver glycogen content and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and expression.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

Assessment methodology:

1) Exam of theoric curriculum; 2) compliance with the practices; 3) seminars and other activities and 4) attendance to theoric and laboratory sessions.