The list below will take you to web pages for each of the topics covered in the course. Topic pages may be updated during the semester and this will be indicated.

You are encouraged to read on your own for this course. Use the library for other textbooks and the literature for review articles to enhance your understanding of the material.

 

Introduction to Bacteria & Bacterial Genetics

Introduction to bacteria Bacterial Genetics Complementation Tests

morphology & taxonomy of prokaryotes; bacterial chromosomes and genomic sequencing projects; mutant phenotypes; the Luria-Delbrück experiment.

 

Mutations & Mutagenesis

Adaptive Mutation Mutations Mutagenesis Site-directed mutagenesis

Adaptive mutagenesis; types of mutations; reversion & suppression; mechanisms of spontaneous mutagenesis; the adaptive response. Site-directed mutagenesis.

 

DNA Repair

DNA Repair

repair systems; N-glycosylases & AP endonucleases; methyl-directed mismatch repair, very short patch repair; the GO system; nucleotide excision repair (uvrABC); postreplication/recombinational repair; SOS repair.

 

Plasmids

Plasmids

resistance transfer factors; plasmids; plasmid replication & host range; control of plasmid copy number; incompatibility groups; plasmid transfer; shuttle vectors

 

Genetic transfer in bacteria

Conjugation Conjugation (II) Bacterial transformation Bacteriophage transduction

Conjugation: Joshua Lederberg; Bill Hayes; the F-plasmid; regulation of tra gene expression; transformation in gram positive bacteria: the eclipse phase; genetics of transformation; transformation in gram negative bacteria; artificial transformation; generalized and specialized phage transduction.

 

The Operon Model of Gene Expression (review)

Control of Gene Expression Complementation Tests Induction Genetics of the Lactose Operon The Operon Model of Gene Expression

Diauxie; the work of Joshua Lederberg; the work of Jacob and Monod; the PaJaMo experiment; mutations in the lactose operator; mutations in the lactose repressor; the operon model; structural genes & regulator genes; the operator; induction and repression

 

The Lactose Operon (review)

The Lactose Operon The Lactose Operator Analysis of Protein-DNA Interactions

structural genes; regulator gene; gene organization; cis-acting sites; isolation of the operator; methylation and ethylation protection experiments; DNase footprinting

 

Mechanism of Repression at the Lactose Operator

Mechanism of Repression at the Lactose Operator Specific Destruction of the Second lac Operator Decreases Expression of the lac Operon in Escherichia coli Fivefold Repression of lac Promoter as a Function of Distance, Phase and Quality of an Auxiliary lac Operator The Lac Repressor

RNA polymerase & the operator: physical studies & mechanistic studies; evidence supporting a functional role for the second and third lac operators; DNA looping & the effect of spacing on activity

 

The Galactose, Tryptophan, and Arabinose Operons

The Galactose Operon The Tryptophan operon The Arabinose Operon

 

Catabolite Repression & Bacterial Sugar Transport

Introduction to Catabolite Repression Bacterial Sugar Transport

glucose repression; the role of cAMP; E. coli mutants defective in catabolite repression; PTS sugar transport systems; the adenylate cyclase connection ; the lactose permease connection

 

CRP Activation of Transcription

cAMP Receptor Protein CRP Activation of Transcription Identification of the Activating Region of CRP Identification of the Functional Subunit of CRP Transcription Activation at Class II CRP-Dependent Promoters

CRP structure; CRP binding to DNA: general & specific features; mechanisms of action of CRP; evidence for direct interaction during activation of CLASS I CRP-activated promoters; identification of an activating region in CRP; the importance of the orientation of CRP for activation; activation of CLASS II & CLASS III CRP-activated promoters

 

Other Activator Proteins

Other Activator Proteins

regulons & global regulatory networks; the FNR family; leucine responsive regulatory protein (LRP)

 

Bacteriophage Lambda

Bacteriophage Lambda - Overview Infection & Immunity Gene Organization & Expression The Immunity Region The Repressor Cro Protein Control of Transcription at Or: Measuring Control Control of Transcription at Or: Control by Repressor Maintenance of Lysogeny Induction of lysogens Control of Transcription at Or: Control by Cro Gene Expression in Lytic Growth Antitermination Lysis Gene Expression to Establish Lysogeny Bacteriophage Lambda: A Genetic Network

Overview of bacteriophage lambda; Lwoff and the discovery of induction; zygotic induction; immunity to superinfection ; gene organization & expression; the immunity region: operators & promoters; the lambda repressor: structure, binding, cooperativity, the role of the N-terminal arm; the helix-swap experiment of Wharton and Ptashne; Cro protein; control of transcription at OR; the effect of repressor on expression from PR & from PRM; repressor as a transcriptional activator; the effect of Cro on expression from PR and PRM; turning Cro protein into an activator; gene expression in lytic growth; gene expression to establish lysogenic growth; maintenance of lysogeny; induction of lysogeny; a genetic network: modelling lambda as a dynamic circuit

PAPER1 -- PAPER2

Two-component regulatory systems

Two-component Regulatory Systems