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Comparison of effectiveness of teaching using computers vs. 3D models
Andělová, Denisa ; Janštová, Vanda (advisor) ; Jáč, Martin (referee)
Currently, pupils' interest in science continues to decline, although this area of education is very important in every day life (medicine, environment, etc.) and there is high demand for science professions on the labor market. Molecular biology curriculum concerning DNA and the transfer of genetic information is abstract and difficult topic for pupils to imagine, and for teachers to explain. There are many ways to teach this topic. Very popular are iquiry and laboratory practise. But not all schools have their own laboratories, and can teach molecular practical effectivelly. Inquiry based teaching is time consuming to prepare, and not every topic is appropriate to be taught this way. Another possibilities how to visualize "invisible" molecules and processes are computer software and animations or 3D physical model. In my thesis, I examined the effect of using computers and animations to teach abou DNA compared to using a 3D physical model on students' knowledge. I laso tested the possible influence of gender and pupils' preferences on their achieved score on knowledge tests. The research was performed in five classes at three high schools in Prague. Students in year 12 were on different types of high school and some of them took special biology class, their age was between 15 and 18 years. The...
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The role of stress granules and 4E-BP in heat-stressed cells of S. cerevisiae
Kolářová, Věra ; Hašek, Jiří (advisor) ; Zimmermannová, Olga (referee)
The cells are capable of very quick and specific reactions on stress conditions. Influence of translation, specifically initiation of translation by inhibition factors, is one of the main regulatory process. Two of eIF4E-binding proteins (4E-BP), Eap1p and Caf20p, are known as cap-dependent translation repressors in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We used in vivo fluorescent microscopy analysis to show different reaction of Caf20p and Eap1p to heat stress. Protein Caf20p does not react on heat shock and stays difused in cytoplasm. Contrary to Caf20p reaction, protein Eap1p accumulates in cytoplasm close to stress granules (SGs). This work shows that Eap1p is involved in stress granules assembly. In the absence of Eap1p, yeast cells react to the heat stress with small and less focused SGs. Dele- tion of CAF20 does not affect SG assembly. This points to specific function of SG in distribution of factors connected with stress reaction. Polysomal analysis shows that deletion of one of initiation translation repressors does not affect heat induced global repression of translation. In permisive condition deletion of EAP1 may cause defect in addition of 60S ribosomal subunits. Absence of protein Eap1p causes morphological defect. That point to a different reactions of Eap1p and Caf20p on heat stress and possible...
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Impact of the rRNA modifications on protein synthesis
Kročová, Eliška ; Pospíšek, Martin (advisor) ; Holá, Dana (referee)
A ribosome is a supramolecular structure, which mediates synthesis of all cellular proteins, and therefore is essential for cell life. The fact, that some nucleotides of ribosomal RNA are modified, is known for forty years. However only recently, successful deeper studies on how the individual modifications are synthesized and what is their effect on ribosome synthesis and function appear. Some particular nucleotide modifications are important for the ribosome formation (like m1 acp3 Ψ1191 SSU), some others influence proper function of the ribosome (e.g. Um2921, Gm2922, Ψ2923 LSU, m1 acp3 Ψ1191 SSU). Majority of modified nucleotides in eukaryotic rRNA is being recognized by small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA). Few nucleotides is, however, recognized and subsequently modified by specific proteins. These proteins also play crucial role in ribosome maturation. In thesis presented, current knowledge on the role of ribosomal RNA nucleotide modifications during their formation and maturation, and on their function is summarized and overviewed.
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Translational control in immune response.
Hlaváček, Adam ; Valášek, Leoš (advisor) ; Čáp, Michal (referee)
Immune reaction often requires a prompt modification of gene expression that in turn alters cellular physiology. There are an increasing number of articles supporting a critical role of translational control in this aspect of cellular biology. The aim of this work is to present some of cellular and molecular mechanisms that connect translational control and immune reaction in immune and somatic cells and can be possibly misused by some viruses. Perhaps not surprisingly, many immunologically relevant translational control mechanisms are similar to those acting during the stress response. Over the years it has been documented that the T cells, dendrocytes, Natural killer cells and macrophages utilize translational control for their immunological activation following stimulation. Combination of general and gene-specific translational control mechanisms enables fast changes in proteome and physiology that are characteristic for immune cell activation. The overall impact of translational control on immune response is further illustrated by the fact that it acts upon each stage of life of immune cells - from their activation, through survival, to a programmed cell death. Even in some non-immune cells the translational control plays an important role with respect to immunity, as these cells are known to have an...
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Cell death-regulating micro RNAs and their role in the development and pathological processes.
Běhounek, Matěj ; Anděra, Ladislav (advisor) ; Seifertová, Eva (referee)
MicroRNAs are small protein non-coding, ~ 22 nucleotides long dsRNAs. Their main task is suppression of gene expression via removal/destabilization of mRNA or its targeting to degradation. These small molecules play an important role in the regulation of many cellular processes and have been found to affect expression of more than 30% of human genes. Among the processes affected or regulated by miRNAa belongs also programmed cell death. Although this work is mainly focused on the analysis and characterization a role of distinct miRNAs in the regulation of apoptotic cell death, miRNAs can also participate in the regulation of autophagic cell death or programmed necrosis. MiRNA can enhance cellular sensitivity to apoptosis by suppressing the expression of death receptor genes, but can also drive cells to apoptosis by regulating expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In many different organisms were already discovered and described thausends of micro RNAs anddozens of them participate in the regulation of cell death. Poor or impaired function of miRNAs and related disturbance in apoptotic signaling could lead to a number of pathological processes as tumorigenesis or disturbances in tissue development and homeostasis. . Understanding how miRNA functions in cell death and possible practical...
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Protein synthesis in cellular stress
Cienciala, Martin ; Pospíšek, Martin (advisor) ; Holá, Dana (referee)
Environmental stress is a daily bread for organisms across many different branches of life. Very complex response mechanisms have evolved to tackle such insults. Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is adapted especially well for counteracting oxidative and osmotic stress. These unfavorable conditions usually lead to inhibition of protein synthesis. The GCN2 kinase is thought to be responsible for this phenomenon. General inhibition of protein synthesis is accompanied by an increase in expression of proteins engaging in stress response. Production of these proteins is often preceded by specialized regulatory processes, that operate on various stages of expression. This thesis will try to present the diversity and complexity of the individual regulatory layers.
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Characterization of the ABC-F protein Sco0636 in Streptomyces coelicolor
Pinďáková, Nikola ; Balíková Novotná, Gabriela (advisor) ; Mikušová, Gabriela (referee)
The main topic of this diploma thesis is ARE (resistance) proteins from the ABC-F family of the second class of ABC proteins. ARE proteins confer resistance to antibiotics that bind to a large ribosomal subunit and therefore inhibit proteosynthesis. One of the ARE proteins is the Lmr (C) protein, which is part of the linkomycin biosynthesis cluster of Streptomyces lincolnensis, and according to new results, Lmr (C) does not have to be just resistant protein but may have also regulatory function. We decided to study Sco0636, the closest homologue to Lmr (C) in Streptomyces coelicolor, which is a model organism in the study of secondary metabolism. Thanks to the production of color pigments, it is possible to monitor the effect of ARE proteins on secondary metabolism directly on the plates. I prepared the deletion mutant and the strain with constitutive expression of sco0636, and observed the effect on the phenotype. I followed the production of a blue asset and set a minimum inhibitory concentration to selected antibiotics, which bind to the ribosome. I have found that Sco0636 gives high resistance to tiamulin and so it has been named TiaA. The deletion of gene sco0636 accelerated production of actinorodine, and constitutive expression of this gene slowed down production. Keywords: ABC proteins,...
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Regulation of mTOR pathway in the oocyte meiosis
Schmidtová, Barbara ; Šušor, Andrej (advisor) ; Krylov, Vladimír (referee)
Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is serin-threonin kinase, which has become a major topic in many studies in the last decade, leading to new insights into how cell works. This kinase is involved in proteosynthesis, metabolism, cell cycle regulation, proliferation and responses to nutrients and growth factors. There are certain diseases caused by mutations in mTOR gene, which lead to abnormal function of this kinase. These diseases include cancer or fertility disorders. mTOR research is also beneficial due to the search for drugs that could rescue its function and thus provide treatment for these diseases. The best-known drug is inhibitor Rapamycin and its derivates. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to summarize the knowledge about how mTOR can be regulated, the role of its substrates in cell function and to define the role of mTOR in oocyte development, translation and human health. Keywords: Oocyte, mTOR, translation, 4E-BP1, MPF, meiosis, AKT
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The role of elF3 a Rps3 in stop codon readthrough
Poncová, Kristýna ; Valášek, Leoš (advisor) ; Vopálenský, Václav (referee) ; Krásný, Libor (referee)
Translation represents a highly regulated, interconnected process of protein synthesis in the cell. It could be divided into 4 phases: initiation, elongation, termination, and ribosomal recycling. Our laboratory is involved in in-depth studies of a complex eukaryotic initiation factor 3 protein (eIF3). We are interested not only in revealing its molecular roles in the translational cycle in general but also in specific mechanisms that allow translational regulation according to specific cellular needs. In the budding yeast, the eIF3 is composed of five essential subunits (a/Tif32, b/Prt1, c/Nip1, g/Tif35 and i/Tif34). In mammals, the protein is even more complex, comprising of 12 subunits (a-i, k-m). eIF3 is a key player not only in translation initiation but also in ribosomal recycling and, surprisingly, in translation termination and stop codon readthrough as well. The latter process harbors important clinical potential, as approximately 1/3 of genetically inherited diseases is caused by the presence of a premature termination codon in the protein-coding region. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon provides important tools for the targeted and less toxic drug development approaches needed for patient therapy. In this Ph.D. Thesis, I uncovered the role of...
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