Code: BIOL-414
Semester: 
Course Type: Elective
ECTS units: 5
Hours per week: Theory - 3 hours
 
 
 

 

Instructor

Professor: Spilianakis Charalampos
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Office phone number:  +30 2810 391163
Lab phone number:  +30 2810 391173
 
 
Description

Objectives of the course (preferably expressed in terms of learning outcomes and competences): The biochemical basis of the epigenetic mode of inheritance. The aim is to familiarize the student with the protein complexes and the biochemical approaches that define epigenetic inheritance in various model systems. The epigenetic basis of disease.

Course contents:

  • An introduction to Epigenetics
  • Biochemical mechanisms of Epigenetics

DNA methylation, recognition of methylated CpG, demethylation in mammals, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, the effect of chromosome organization, mechanisms of polycomb proteins

  • Biochemical approaches to study Epigenetics

Analysis of tissue-specific DNA methylation, methods for assessing genome-wide DNA methylation, methylation of Lysine-9 of Histone H3: role in heterochromatin modulation and tumorigenesis, chromatin modifications distinguish genomic features and physical organization of the nucleus, assessing epigenetic information

  • Model Organisms of Epigenetics

Eukaryotic microbes, Drosophila, mouse models of epigenetic inheritance, epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in plants

  • Metabolism and Epigenetics
  • Functions of Epigenetics

Stem Cells and cellular differentiation, Epigenetic basis of skeletal muscle regeneration, X Chromosome Inactivation, genomic imprinting, Epigenetics of memory processes, transgenerational Epigenetics, aging Epigenetics

  • Evolutionary Epigenetics

Epigenetics in adaptive evolution and development

  • Epigenetic Epidemiology

The Effects of diet on Epigenetic processes, environmental agents and Epigenetics, impact of microbial infections on the human Epigenome and carcinogenesis, population pharmacoepigenomics

  • Epigenetics and Human Disease

Cancer Epigenetics, the role of Epigenetics in Immune disorders, Epigenetics of brain disorders, complex metabolic syndromes and Epigenetics, clinical applications of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors