Biology- Molecular Genetics Flashcards
(133 cards)
nucleotides
consist of 3 parts: phosphate group, sugar, and a nitrogen base
DNA replication
involves separating (unzipping) the DNA molecule into 2 strands.
Each strand then serves as a template to make a new, complementary strand
semiconservative replication
consists of a single strand of old DNA (template strand) and a new, replicated DNA (the complementary)
helicase
unwinds the DNA, forming a Y-shaped replication fork
single-stranded binding proteins
attach to each strand of the uncoiled DNA to keep them separate and prevent them from recombining
topoisomerases
break and rejoin the double helix, allowing the twists to unravel and preventing formation of knots and twists that form as a result of the unwinding done by helicase
(if you unwind a twist, the ends will get extra tight and knot up)
DNA polymerase
enzyme that assembles the new DNA strand, which moves in the 3’-5’ direction along each template strand. A new complement strand grows in the antiparallel direction 5’-3’.
In which direction does replication occur continuously?
3’ => 5’; the DNA polymerase follows the replication fork and assembles a 5’ => 3’ complementary strand
leading strand
complementary strand made in 5’ => 3’ direction (continuous replication)
okasaki segments
short segments of complementary DNA; For the 5’=>3’ template strand, DNA polymerase moves away from the replication fork
*Every okasaki segment has an RNA primer
DNA ligase
enzyme that connects okasaki segments; in all cases of repair, ligase must come in to seal the backbone afterward
lagging strand
for the 5 => 3 template strand the DNA polymerase has to go back to the replication fork and work away from it. complementary strand that requires more assembly time than the leading one, because it is assembled in short okazaki fragments
primase
enzyme that creates a short stretch of RNA to use as a primer during DNA replication; it initiates DNA replication at special nucleotide sequences called origins of replication w/ RNA primers
The small strip of rna primer allows DNA polymerase can work since it can only add to an existing strand
RNA primer
short stretch of RNA nucleotides, later replaced w/ DNA nucleotides by DNA polymerase
elongation
adding of DNA nucleotides to the complement strand; happens when DNA polymerase attaches to RNA primers
Where does the energy for elongation come from?
there are two additional phosphates that are attached to each nucleotide. When the bonds are broken, it provides chemical energy (same w/ transcription). Human rate 50 n/s
Replication of Telomeres (ends of eukaryotic chromosomes)
Two problems can occur:
- When not enough template strand remains to which primase can attach.
- FIX: telomerase comes in - When the last primase is removed, if there is no next okazaki segment to which DNA polymerase can attach, the empty space left by the removal of the primer is left unfilled. RNA is ultimately destroyed by enzymes that degrade RNA left on the DNA, section of the telomere subsequently lost w/ each replication cycle
Prokaryotic DNA is circular so no telomeres or issue.
telomerase
attaches to the end of the template strand and extends the template strand by adding a short sequence of DNA nucleotides over and over again. This allows elongation of the lagging strand to continue. However, at the end it will still be not enough for primase to attach but this loss of unimportant segment will not cause any problem.
Telomerase carries an RNA template: binds to flaking 3’ end of telomeere that compliments part of its RNA template, synthesizes to fill in over the rest of its template
Eventually, telomerase stops the elongation, and ultimately DNA polymerase will be unable to replicate new portions due to the reasons in replication of telomeres. However, the DNA in the extended region of the template is just repeating short segments of nucleotides and merely acts to prevent the loss of important coding DNA that precedes it
one-gene-one-enzyme hypothesis
the gene was defined as the segment of DNA that codes for a particular enzyme
one-gene-one-polypeptide hypothesis
since many genes code for polypeptides that are not enzymes (structural proteins or individual components of enzymes), the gene was redefined as a segment of DNA that codes for a particular polypeptide
protein synthesis
the process that describes how enzymes and other proteins are made from DNA
What are the 3 steps of protein synthesis?
Transcription, RNA processing, and translation
transcription
RNA molecules are created by using the DNA molecule as a template; prokaryotes polycistronic, eukaryotes monocistronic
RNA-processing
modifies the RNA molecule that’s created by deleting or adding