Bi6726 Molecular toxicology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Jan Vondráček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jiřina Procházková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jan Vondráček, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Jan Vondráček, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Principle goal of this course is to enable the students to understand the principles of modulations of physiological processes in organism by xenobiotics. They should be able to make deductions based on the acquired knowledge in xenobiochemistry, and toxicology, in order to interpret molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of toxic compounds, pharmaceuticals and selected metabolites within organism. At the end of this course, students should also have a basic understanding of metabolism of xenobiotics within organism, their intearactions with intracellular receptors, impact of xenobiotics on endocrine regulation and development, and basic types of toxic effects of xenobiotics.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to: describe roles of intracellular receptors (AhR, nuclear receptors) in toxic action of xenobiotics, inclusing stuctural basis for interactions of toxic compounds with nuclear receptors; define model examples of mechanisms of endocrine disruption in vertebrates and invertebrates; describe mechanisms of toxic action of toxicants based on direct interactions xenobiotics and biological macromolecules or oxidative stress; describe basic toxicity types; summarize basic principles of metabolism of xenobiotics; describe model examples of interactions of toxic compounds with intracellular signaling; analyze and describe principles of action of natural toxins.
Syllabus
  • 1)An overview of toxic compounds linked with environmental pollution: anthropogenic organic pollutants, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, secondary metabolites (dietary compounds and toxins).
  • 2)Basic principles of metabolization, transport and accumulation of xenobiotics within body, Phase I and II biotransformation enzymes; antioxidants;Phase III. proteins. Toxicokinetics.
  • 3)Basic types of toxicity of xenobiotics (genotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, tumor promotion, endocrine disruption). Carcinogenic compounds.
  • 4)Direct interactions of toxic compounds with macromolecules (nucleic acids, proteins). Oxidative stress and other forms of cellular stress.
  • 5)Deregulation of signal transduction by xenobiotics. Interactions with intracellular receptors.
  • 6)bHLH/PAS protein family; Ah receptor and its signaling; toxic effects of AhR ligands.
  • 7)Nuclear receptors and their ligands; their role in regulation of metabolism of xenobiocs; physiological functions based on modulation of target gene expression.
  • 8)Structure of AhR and nuclear receptors - ligand binding, agonists vs. antagonists.
  • 9)Steroid receptors and principles of endocrine disruption in vertebrates.
  • 10)Endocrine disruption and deregulation of embryonal and post-natal development of vertebrates. Metabolic disruption. Roles of additional NRs: retinoid receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, thyroid receptors.
  • 11)Natural compounds, toxin and mechanisms of their action.
  • 12)Modern methods in toxicology and their applications
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Smart R. C., Hodgson E.: Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology, 5th ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2017
    not specified
  • Josephy P.D. et Mannervik B.: Molecular Toxicology, 2nd ed., OUP, 2006
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
The course is closed by written exam (approximately 12 questions; 60 min). For passing the written exam, at least 60% of questions need to be correctly answered.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Na předmět se vztahuje povinnost registrace, bez registrace může být znemožněn zápis předmětu!
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2026/Bi6726