Chapter 16 Flashcards
(18 cards)
DNA sequence to which an activator protein binds to regulate gene expression. Term refers to regulatory sites in bacteria; in eukaryotes, the equivalent sequence would be called an enhancer element.
Activator binding site:
A TF that binds to the regulatory sequences associated with a gene and upregulates that gene’s expression
Activator protien
A modified form of lactose that binds to the lac repressor protein, inducing an allosteric change that reduces the DNA binding ability of the complex.
Allolactose:
Domain of a protein that allows the protein to change shape when it binds to a specific molecule; the protein in the new shape is altered in its ability to bind to a second molecule (e.g., DNA). Also known as allostery.
Allosteric domain:
An RNA molecule that is complementary to a portion of a specific mRNA.
Antisense RNA:
In bacterial transcription regulation, binds cAMP at low glucose concentrations to positively regulate the transcription of operons that allow the use of alternative carbon souces.
CAP (catabolite activator protein):
A bacterial DNA regulatory sequence to which the CAP-cAMP complex binds to positively regulate gene expression.
CAP binding site:
Formed by joining catabolite activator protein to cAMP, the complex binds to the CAP binding site of the bacterial lac promoter to regulate gene expression.
CAP-cAMP complex:
State in which a gene is continuously transcribed.
Constitutive transcription:
An accessory molecule required for a repressor protein to exert its function.
Corepressor:
An accessory molecule that binds to a protein that leads to activation of gene expression. The inducer can bind to a repressor protein and prevent its function or bind to an activator protein and stimulate its function.
Inducer:
An accessory molecule that converts activator proteins to an inactive conformation by binding to an allosteric binding domain of the activator protein.
Inhibitor:
Condition where binding of a repressor protein to a regulatory DNA sequence prevents transcription of a gene or a cluster of genes.
Negative control:
Regulatory DNA sequences to which repressor or activator proteins bind. Term used in bacterial systems.
Operator:
A set of adjacent genes that are transcribed in a polycistronic mRNA and are thus coordinately regulated; an operon is generally considered to include associated regulatory sequences (e.g., promoter, operator, etc.). Primarily found in bacteria and archaea.
Operon:
In bacteria, an mRNA containing the transcripts of two or more genes.
Polycistronic mRNA:
Condition where binding of an activator protein to a regulatory DNA sequence stimulates transcription of a gene or a cluster of genes.
Positive control:
A transcription factor that binds to regulatory sequences associated with a gene and represses that gene’s expression.
Repressor protein:
