MOLECULAR AND NUTRITION BIOLOGY

Acquire in-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression in humans, with particular reference to eating behaviour and the action of nutrients in controlling signal transduction pathways and in the onset of multifactorial metabolic diseases. The course also aims to provide the basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms through which the human body uses nutrients to produce the energy necessary to perform normal biological functions. In addition, it aims to illustrate the molecular mechanisms related to the action of hormones and nutrients on epigenetic modifications and gene expression.

The teaching method consists of lectures.

If teaching is delivered in a blended or distance learning format, the necessary changes may be made to the above in order to comply with the programme set out in the syllabus.

Signal transduction from external stimuli to gene expression in response to nutrients, growth factors, stress signals, and intracellular changes in metabolites 

The molecular mechanisms of gene regulation and expression mediated by transcription factors (PPARs, USFs, SREBs, LXRs, C/EBPs, RAR, RXR, ER) involved in the response to nutrient availability (carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins, vitamins) 

The molecular mechanisms of gene regulation and expression mediated by transcription factors (CREB, ERK, ElK, FOS, FOXO, ATF, Jun, Myc, CBP/P300, p53) involved in growth, proliferation, cell survival, stress, in response to growth factors, cytokines, hormones (e.g. EGF, NGF, INS, ACTH, TSH, LH) 

Bioinformatic methods (e.g. analysis of UCSC Genome browser, ENCODE, GTXs, MethBank, Genomatix, JASPAR, UniBind) and experimental methods (e.g. ChIP, EMSA, REPSA, gene reporter assay, DNA pull-down assay) for the identification of transcription factors and their respective regulatory sequences on DNA

Endocrine disruptors

Elements of molecular bioenergetics and regulation of cellular energy balance in response to nutrients

Effects of nutrients on chromatin modifications and gene expression:

DNA methylation and CpG islands. Chromatin remodelling: histone modifications; action of “remodelling complexes”; histone variant substitutions. Epigenetic silencing and imprinting. DNA methylation analysis techniques. (TEXTS: “Molecular Biology” by J. Zatlanova, Zanichelli Publishers; Articles from scientific journals indicated by the lecturer)

Pro- and anti-carcinogenic molecular mechanisms of dietary constituents; chemoprevention with “enhanced” foods; the action of microconstituents of fruit and vegetables on gene regulation; the effect of nutritional deficiencies and obesity (TEXTS: ‘Molecular Biology of Cancer’ by L. Pecorino, Zanichelli Edition; Articles from scientific journals indicated by the lecturer).

Nutrients and non-coding RNA:

Gene regulation mechanisms of miRNA and siRNA (TEXTS: ‘Molecular Biology of the Gene’ by J. Watson, VII Edition, Zanichelli; Articles from scientific journals indicated by the lecturer).

Genetically modified foods:

Elements of genetic engineering applied to food plants; GMOs and their molecular traceability in the agri-food chain (TEXT and Articles from scientific journals indicated by the lecturer).

Arienti G., IV edizione, Basi Molecolari della Nutrizione, Piccin

Alberts B. et al, VI edizione, Biologia Molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli

Latchman D.S., 2nd edition, Gene control, Garland Science

Lehninger ultima ediz; Nichols DG, Ferguson S - Bioenergetics 4th ed 2014 Academic Press ed edizioni successive

“Biologia molecolare” di J. Zatlanova, Ediz. Zanichelli

“Biologia molecolare del cancro” di L. Pecorino, Ediz. Zanichelli

“Biologia molecolare del gene” di J. Watson, VII Ediz. Zanichelli

Additional material will be uploaded to the Studium platform.

The examination method consists of a written test at the end of the course, followed by an oral examination. This method will therefore only be used for the first examination session available after the course and for students who have attended regularly and reached the minimum attendance threshold. For subsequent examination sessions, learning will be assessed by means of an oral examination only.

Learning assessment may also be carried out online, should conditions require it.

The questions will focus on the topics covered during the lessons.

E.g.: - Mechanism of action of the CREB transcription factor.

- How can nutrients act as chemopreventive agents?