Medical Biotechnology MSc

The knowledge to be attained
The storage, maintenance and expression of genetic information, as well as their molecular mechanisms are fundamental topics of the course. DNA replication, DNA damage and repair, RNA synthesis and processing, protein synthesis, maturation and targeting, and different ways of regulation of gene expression are discussed. Regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis, in the light of the molecular background of tumor development is also part of the subject. Some of the lectures provide insights into molecular biology research.

Midterm tests and Students’ presentation
Two oral midterm examinations are held during the semester. In each occasion, a random topic should be picked from the list and answered verbally. The student’s performance is evaluated from 1 to 5 in each of the two tests.
Students who miss a test due to illness (with a medical certificate presented) will be provided with a retake opportunity within one week.

Requirements for the signature
The course of the subject will not be recognized in case of more than 3 absences during the semester.

Examination
The semester ends with an oral terminal examination.
Students draw from two sets of topics, so the grade is based on two parts. The partial grades are offered in advance if marks of 3, 4 or 5 have been obtained at each of the two evaluations held during the term. The grade of the first oral midterm (better than 2) is counted as the first, and that of the second oral midterm (better than 2) is counted as the second partial grade. Midterm marks worse than 3 do not yield such exemptions, and the student must draw a topic from the given set at the terminal exam.

What to learn for the terminal examination?
– The material of all lectures during the semester.
– Medical Pathobiochemistry (eds. Mandl J and Machovich R) ISBN: 978 963 226 407 3
– Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K and Walter P) ISBN: 978-0815341055

Location: Room 134, ITK building (Práter u. 50/A)
Duration: 2 x 45 min (Mondays 9:15 – 11:00 and Wednesdays 14:15 – 16:00)

Date	Time	Place	Lecture	Lecturer
February 9	9:15	ITK 134	Basics of molecular biology	Csala
February 11	14:15	ITK 134	DNA replication	Mészáros
February 16	9:15	ITK 134	DNA damage, mutation, repair	Mészáros
February 18	14:15	ITK 134	Transcription	Csala
February 23	9:15	ITK 134	RNA processing	Csala
February 25	14:15	ITK 134	Control of gene expression at mRNA level	Csala
March 2	9:15	ITK 134	Translation	Mészáros
March 4	14:15	ITK 134	Control of translation	Mészáros
March 9	9:15	ITK 134	Post-translational modifications	Mészáros
March 11	14:15	ITK 134	Intracellular protein trafficking	Mészáros
March 16	9:15	EOK	ORAL MIDTERM I
March 18	14:15	ITK 134	Protein degradation (proteasome and autophagy)	Mészáros
March 23	9:15	ITK 134	Vesicular transport, endocytosis, exocytosis	Kereszturi
March 25	14:15	ITK 134	Methods of protein generation	Mészáros
April 13	9:15	ITK 134	Genetic polymorphism and human diseases I	Kereszturi
April 15	14:15	ITK 134	Genetic polymorphism and human diseases I	Kereszturi
April 20	9:15	ITK 134	Molecular biology of viruses I	Csala
April 22	14:15	ITK 134	Molecular biology of viruses II	Csala
April 27	9:15	ITK 134	Control of cell cycle I	Csala
April 29	14:15	ITK 134	Control of cell cycle II	Csala
May 4	9:15	ITK 134	Apoptosis I	Csala
May 6	14:15	ITK 134	Apoptosis II	Csala
May 11	9:15	ITK 134	Molecular background of cancer	Csala
May 13	14:15	EOK	ORAL MIDTERM II

Topics for the 1st midterm

1. Structure of DNA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, histones, topoisomerism
2. Proteins involved in prokaryotic DNA replication
3. Initiation of replication and the replication fork
4. Special features of eukaryotic DNA replication, the telomerase
5. The most important types of DNA lesion, DNA damage and mutation
6. Formation and repair of “mismatch damage”
7. Ways to repair pyrimidine (Thymine) dimer
8. Structure and function of E. coli RNA polymerase
9. Initiation and termination of transcription in prokaryotic cells
10. Initiation and termination of transcription in eukaryotic cells
11. Processing of mRNA and the structure of mature mRNA
12. Regulation of transcription in prokaryotes
13. Regulation of transcription in eukaryotes
14. Mechanisms for influencing eukaryotic gene expression (other than transcriptional control)
15. Structure and function of RNAs involved in translation
16. Mechanism of aminoacyl-tRNA formation
17. Structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes
18. Initiation of translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
19. Elongation and termination of translation
20. Post-translational modifications and functional consequences
21. Possible mechanisms for the control of translation
22. Intracellular proteolysis, types and mechanisms of autophagy
23. Intracellular proteolysis, ubiquitination, proteasome

Topics for the 2nd midterm

1. Eukaryotic cell organelles and the nuclear protein transport
2. Protein transport to mitochondria and the ER
3. Vesicular transport between the organelles, the role of SNARE proteins and Rab proteins
4. Vesicular transport, endocytosis and exocytosis, the role of coat-forming proteins
5. Lytic and lysogenic replication of bacteriophages
6. Grouping of animal viruses according to their replication mechanism, effect of double-stranded RNA in the eukaryotic cells
7. Replication cycle of retroviruses, acutely transforming retroviruses
8. Role of genetic variations in disease development, ways to determine genetic factors
9. Techniques for detecting and analyzing genetic polymorphisms and mutations
10. The eukaryotic cell division cycle – phases and checkpoints
11. Cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases and their inhibitors
12. Control of cell cycle in G1 and S phases
13. Control of cell cycle in G2 and M phases
14. Handling DNA injuries and ongoing replication during the cell cycle
15. Structure and function of apoptosome, DISC, and PIDDosome
16. Types of Bcl-2 proteins and their role in apoptosis pathways of different origin
17. Properties of caspases and their role in regulating apoptosis
18. Components of the “survival signal” and its connection with the regulatory proteins of apoptosis
19. The endoplasmic reticulum stress and the UPR
20. Control of the level and activity of p53 protein
21. Effects of p53 protein on cell cycle and apoptosis
22. The concept of tumor suppressor genes, the functions of some representative tumor suppressor proteins
23. Genetic modifications leading to tumor cell formation
24. Elements of prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors
25. Isolation of overexpressed proteins

Lecture slides are available here.

The passwords to download pages can be obtained from the laboratory teachers personally.