EPIGENETICS AND METABOLISM IN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to illustrate the mechanisms underlying human pathology, with a particular focus on how the disruption of the direct relationship between metabolism and epigenetics contributes to its onset and progression. Upon completing the course, students will have acquired a broader understanding of human pathology by exploring a fundamental regulatory level in the development of diseases, especially those associated with metabolic alterations. Specifically, students will gain knowledge and skills related to: i) pathologies associated with metabolic dysfunction, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, liver disorders, and cancer; ii) the critical role of certain metabolites in regulating the activity of epigenetic enzymes; iii) the potential to act in the metabolism–epigenetics–pathology axis through nutraceutical or pharmacological approaches; iv) technological methods used to study the relationship between metabolism and epigenetics in disease contexts

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FRANCESCO SPALLOTTA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course focuses on the study of the molecular mechanisms regulating cellular metabolism and epigenetics cross-talk and its role in physiopathological contexts. The main metabolic cycles that determine the fluctuations of key metabolites in controlling epigenetic processes will be introduced. In parallel, the different epigenetic modifications affecting DNA, RNA and histones and the classes of metabolically controlled epigenetic enzymes that determine them will be presented. The evolution and deregulation between metabolism and epigenetics will be addressed in the aging process and in several complex pathologies associated with metabolic alterations such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, liver disease and cancer. The course also intends to describe the most recent methodological approaches to evaluate the cross-talk between metabolism and epigenetics down to the single cell level and how this interaction is altered in physiopathological processes.
Prerequisites
Although no prerequisites are required, the student must possess an adequate knowledge of molecular and cellular biologyis required.
Books
The student will be provided with updated reviews on the individual topics covered in class
Frequency
Attendance at lessons is not required. However, the student is encouraged to attend classes.
Exam mode
Assessment of learning outcomes will be assessed through a written exam at the end of the course, the exam will consist of 22 directly-answer questions on the entire program to be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes. In the evaluation of the tests and in the assignment of the final mark, the following will be taken into account: the level of knowledge of the demonstrated contents (superficial, precise and complete, complete and in-depth), the ability to apply the theoretical concepts (errors in applying the concepts, discrete , good, well established), the capacity for analysis, synthesis and interdisciplinary links (sufficient, good, excellent), the capacity for critical sense and the formulation of judgments (sufficient, good, excellent).
Lesson mode
The course includes 40 hours of classroom instruction, delivered through lectures and PowerPoint presentations. 20 hour lectures will focus on the various topics covered in the program. Another 12 hours will be dedicated to practical work through exercises in metabolism and epigenetics.
  • Lesson code10621260
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseGenetics and Molecular Biology
  • CurriculumGenetica e Biologia Molecolare (percorso valido anche ai fini del conseguimento del doppio titolo italo-francese)
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDMED/04
  • CFU6