Syllabus:
· Block 1: Historical overview and introduction (Martin Sztacho)- Evolution of the cell nucleus - Nuclear parameters, size, number, nr. of chromosomes - Nuclear structure, envelope, chromatin, nucleoli - Function, genetic information, principles of compartmentalization - Nuclear division
· Block 2: Nuclear periphery (Peter Hoboth)- Nuclear lamina - Methods to measure genome organization – ChiP, proximity labelling, Hi-C - Nuclear pore complex - Nuclear pore complex in transcriptional regulation - Cellular functions of inner nuclear membrane proteins
· Block 3: Principles of organization (Martin Sztacho) - Mechanical forces in nuclear organization - Liquid-liquid phase separation in chromatin - Stochastic genome and its role in gene expression - Properties and function of actin and actin filaments inside nucleus
· Block 4: Chromatin (Martin Sztacho)- Physical nature of chromatin - Chromatin folding and nuclear organization - 3D chromatin modeling - Transcription factor dynamics - RNA in shaping the nuclear organization - Nuclear compartments
· Block 5: Nuclear processes (Peter Hoboth) - Space and time on the functional genome output - DNA replication timing - Imaging the organization of RNA processing
· Block 6: Pathophysiological processes (Peter Hoboth) - Viruses in the nucleus - Laminopathies - Shaping genome during development - Epigenetic reprograming in development - Dynamics of X chromosome inactivation - Organization of pluripotent genome
Biology of the cell nucleus is a complex topic that currently experiences an exciting period marked by many fascinating discoveries. These discoveries were enabled by the development of novel experimental approaches. The objective of this course is to provide the most up to date fundamentals of the recent discoveries that changed our understanding of the functional organization of the cell nucleus in health and disease. Methodological and technological advances will be discussed together with the biological implications, which they facilitate. We will discuss how recent discoveries shed a new light on the spatiotemporal regulation of the gene expression and heredity, which are the processes central to maintain the life on earth and executed mainly by nuclear functions. Emphasis will be on the concepts of the functional dynamic organization of the gene expression.
Event format: The course will be divided into 6 comprehensive blocks and will be held in English. It is expected that participants have previous basic knowledge of the cell biology.
Requirements: Fluent written and oral English; basic knowledge of the cell biology.