BBSG-501
Section 2
2015
DNA Metabolism and Genetics
M-F 9:00 am – 10:00 am
LRC 106 A & B
Section Director :
Willis K. Samson Ph.D. D.Sc.
Caroline 207A
977-8677
samsonwk@slu.edu
Lecturers:
Alessandro Vindigni , Ph.D.
DRC 505
977-9217
avindign@slu.edu
Gina L.C. Yosten, Ph.D.
Doisy Hall R-423
977-6354
gyosten@slu.edu
Lauren Stein
Doisy Hall R-423
977-6354
lstein@slu.edu
Teaching Goals: At the end of this section, you should understand how a DNA replication
fork works, appreciate the importance of DNA repair mechanisms, diagram a molecular
recombination event, understand how DNA metabolism underlies classical genetics,
understand basic genetics terminology, be able to identify phenotypes arising from oneand two-gene crosses, understand the basics of molecular tools applied to genetics studies,
and understand how multiple genes interact to yield a phenotype.
Focal points will be the DNA replication fork, the Holliday junction, Mendelian genetics,
genetics as a quantitative science, and genetic analysis techniques.
It is expected that if there is assigned reading or homework, it will be completed prior to
the indicated lecture.
Sept. 17
DNA Replication I
Vindigni
Topics: Biological and biochemical constraints on DNA replication, overview of replication,
initiation of DNA replication, enzymes of replication, the replication fork.
Required reading: Alberts pp. 2-4, 61-62, 195-201, 263-271. Alberts, B. (2003) Nature
421:431-435.
Sept. 18
DNA Replication II
Vindigni
Topics: The replication fork in detail, termination and resolution, special problems for
eukaryotic replication, other modes of replication, fidelity of replication.
Required reading: Alberts pp. 202-219, 272-295.
Sept. 21
DNA Repair I
Vindigni
Topics: Biological necessity for DNA repair, DNA damage, repair pathways overview,
photoreactivation.
Required reading: Alberts pp. 245-249, 295-304.
Sept 22
DNA Repair II
Vindigni
Topics: Base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, SOS repair, recombinational repair.
Required reading: Friedberg, E.C. (2003) Nature 421:436-440.
Sept. 23
DNA Recombination I
Vindigni
Topics: Biological necessity for DNA recombination, homologous recombination overview,
synapsis, the Holliday junction.
Required reading: Alberts pp. 304-326.
Sept. 24
DNA Recombination II
Vindigni
Topics: Outcomes of a Holliday junction, gene conversion, recombination over doublestranded gaps, non-homologous recombination, integration, and transposition.
Required reading: Cox, MM, et al. (2000) Nature 404:37-41.
Sept. 25
Wrap Up and Review
Vindigni
Sept. 28
Classical Genetics I
Topics: Monohybrid crosses, dominance, lethals, modifiers
Stein
Sept. 29
Classical Genetics II
Topics: Sex chromosomes and crossing over.
Stein
Sept. 30
Classical Genetics III
Topics: Sex chromosomes and crossing over.
Stein
Oct. 1
Molecular Techniques I
Yosten
Oct. 2
Molecular Techniques II
Yosten
Oct. 5
Molecular Techniques III
Yosten
Oct. 6 Study Day
Oct. 7 Exam
Textbooks and Journal Articles:
A hard copy of the Alberts text is on reserve in the Library. The 4th edition of the Alberts
text and the 7th edition of the Griffiths text can be accessed on line through the “bookshelf”
feature of PubMed.
Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, and Walter. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition.
2008. Garland Science, Inc., New York.
Griffiths, Miller, Suzuki, Lewontin, and Gelbart. An Introduction to Genetic Analysis, 6 th
edition. 1996.
The papers for Dr. Vindigni’s section are available for free download through the SLU
Pubmed portal. Search Pubmed using the following data to access the papers:
DNA replication and recombination.
Alberts B. Nature. 2003 Jan 23;421(6921):431-5. Review.
PMID: 12540917 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Rescuing stalled or damaged replication forks.
Yeeles JTP, Poli J, Marians KJ, Pasero P. Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol. 2013 May
1;5(5):a012815.
PMID: 23637285 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Leon-Ortiz, A.M., Svendsen, J., Boulton, S.J. DNA Repair. 2014 Jul; 19: 152-62
PMID: 24815912 [PubMed - in process]
DNA damage and repair.
Friedberg EC. Nature. 2003 Jan 23;421(6921):436-40. Review.
PMID: 12540918 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]