Bioregulation

Regulation of enzymatic function at the molecular level, as modulated by interactions/complexations between the enzyme protein and different ligands (substrates, products, inhibitors, activators,etc.).  Basic knowledge on enzymology and enzyme kinetics. Interdependencies of protein structure and function relationships, specificity of binding, receptor-ligand interactions. Allosterism and cooperativity, different models and case studies, interactions between these phenomena. Role of metal ion co-factors. Why are enzymes so big? Detailed understandign of previous knowledge in these subjects in light of current literature data.

·         Transport processes within cells and the regulation of these processes. Equivalent cellular spaces, signal motifs, nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking. Mitochondrial transport mechanism. Mechanism of transport to the Golgi apparatus. Vesicular transport. Regulation possibilities via intramolecular or intermolecular masking, the rol eof RanGTP/GDP gradient, connection to the cell cycle, and through the use of posttranslational modifications.

·         P-loop ATPases. General insights. The NTPase domain core, and the role of the different regulatory. Comparative analysis of the motor proteins myosin, kinesin, and helicase with the small G proteins. Insights into thermodynamic and kinetic control – physiological examples and advantages / disadvantages.

·         Genome instability. DNA damage recognition and repair pathways and their role in cellular response. The signaling roles on non-orthodox DNA building box moieties.

·         Transcriptional regulatory pathways and their interdependencies. Repressors, inducers, transcription factors. Combinatorial transcriptional regulation. Comparative analysis of prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcroptional regulation in light of cellular needs.

·         Epigenetics. Detailed analysis of the epigentic codes at the DNA and at the protein (histones) level. Reversible epigentics during development. Interactiosn between epigenetic processes. Active DNA de-methylation. TET systems, BER connections to the DNA damage recognition and repair pathways.

·         Posttranscriptional regulations. mRNA maturation and trafficking. mRNA stabilitym P-bodies. siRNA, miRNA, PIWI and other small RNAs. Non-conventional roles of of small RNAs.

·         Posttranslational modifications. Regulatory possibilities of enzyme complexes involved in posttranslational modifications. Specific versus promiscous systems, advantages and disadvantages of each. Reversible modifications, adaptation to the cell cycle. Phosphorylation, ubiquitin, SUMO, acetylation, methylation and other alkylation, proteolysis. Inhibition and activation of these processes within the living cell.

·         Mechanisms of cell death pathways. Apoptosis, autophagy, netosis. Selection possibilities at the cellular level based on the actual physiological status of the cell. Pathways initiated within the cell or via extracellular signals.