Chapter 17 Flashcards

1
Q

One gene-one polypeptide hypothesis

A

Premise that a gene is a segment of DNA that codes for one polypeptide

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2
Q

Transcription

A

The synthesis of RNA under the direction of DNA; the synthesis of RNA on a DNA template

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3
Q

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A

A type of RNA, synthesized from DNA, that attaches to ribosomes in the cytoplasm and specifies the primary structure of a protein

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4
Q

Translation

A

The actual synthesis of a polypeptide, which occurs under the direction of mRNA

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5
Q

Ribosomes

A

Sites of translation that are complex particles that facilitate the orderly linking of amino acids into polypeptide chains

organelle constructed in the nucleolus and functioning as the site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm; consists of rRNA and protein molecules, which make up two subunits

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6
Q

RNA processing

A

Modification of RNA before it leaves the nucleus, a process unique to eukaryotes

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7
Q

Primary transcript

A

An initial RNA transcript; also called pre-mRNA when transcribed from a protein-coding gene

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8
Q

Triplet code

A

A set of three-nucleotide-long words that specify the amino acids for polypeptide chains

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9
Q

Template strand

A

The DNA strand that provides the template for ordering the sequence of nucleotides in an RNA transcript

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10
Q

Codons

A

A three-nucleotide sequence of DNA or mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or termination signal; the basic unit of the genetic code

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11
Q

Reading frame

A

The way a cell’s mRNA-translating machinery groups the mRNA nucleotides into codons

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12
Q

RNA polymerase

A

An enzyme that links together the growing chain of ribonucleotides during transcription

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13
Q

Promoter

A

A specific nucleotide sequence in DNA that binds RNA polymerase and indicates where to start transcribing RNA

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14
Q

Terminator

A

In prokaryotes, a special sequence of nucleotides in DNA that marks the end of a gene. It signals RNA polymerase to release the newly made RNA molecule, which then departs from the gene

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15
Q

Transcription unit

A

A region of a DNA molecule that is transcribed into an RNA molecule

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16
Q

Transcription factors

A

A regulatory protein that binds to DNA and stimulates transcription of specific genes

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17
Q

Transcription initiation complex

A

The completed assembly of transcription factors and RNA polymerase bound to the promoter

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18
Q

TATA box

A

A promoter DNA sequence crucial in forming the transcription initiation complex

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19
Q

5’ cap

A

The 5’ end of a pre-mRNA molecule modified by the addition of a cap of guanine nucleotide

20
Q

poly-A tail

A

The modified end of the 3’ end of an mRNA molecule consisting of the addition of of some 50 to 250 adenine nucleotides

21
Q

RNA splicing

A

The removal of noncoding portions (introns) of the RNA molecule after initial synthesis

22
Q

Introns

A

A noncoding, intervening sequence within a eukaryotic gene

23
Q

Exons

A

A coding region of a eukaryotic gene. Exons, which are expressed, are seperated from each other by introns

24
Q

Spliceosome

A

A complex assembly that interacts with the ends of an RNA intron in splicing RNA, releasing the intron and joining the two adjacent exons

25
Q

Ribozymes

A

An enzyme-like RNA molecule that catalyzes reactions during RNA splicing

26
Q

Alternative RNA splicing

A

A type of regulation at the RNA-processing level in which different mRNA molecules are are produced from the same primary transcript, depending on which RNA segments are treated as exons and which as introns

27
Q

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A

An RNA molecule that functions as an interpreter between nucleic acid and protein language by picking up specific amino acids and recognizing the appropriate codons in the mRNA

28
Q

Anticodon

A

A specialized base triplet at one end of a tRNA molecule that recognizes a particular complementary codon on an mRNA molecule

29
Q

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthase

A

An enzyme that joins each amino acid to the correct tRNA

30
Q

Wobble

A

A violation of the base pairing rules in that the third nucleotide (5’ end) of a tRNA anticodon can form hydrogen bonds with more than one kind of base in the third position (3’ end) of a codon

31
Q

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A

The most abundant type of RNA, which together with proteins forms the structure of ribosomes, Ribosomes coordinate the sequential coupling of tRNA molecules to mRNA codons

32
Q

P site

A

One of ribosome’s three binding sites for tRNA during translation. The P site holds the tRNA carrying the growing polypeptide chain. (P stands for peptidyl tRNA)

33
Q

A site

A

One of a ribosome’s 3 binding sites for tRNA during translation. the A site holds the tRNA carrying the next amino acid to be added to the polypeptide chain (A stands for aminoacyl tRNA)

34
Q

E site

A

One of a ribosome’s three binding sites for tRNA during translation. The E site is the place where discharged tRNAs leave the ribosome (E stands for exit)

35
Q

Polyribosomes / polysomes

A

An aggregation of several ribosomes attached to one messenger RNA molecule

36
Q

Signal peptide

A

A stretch of amino acids on a polypeptide that targets the protein to a specific destination in a eukaryotic cell

37
Q

Signal-recognition particle (SRP)

A

A protein-RNA complex that recognizes a signal peptide as it emerges from the ribosome

38
Q

Point mutations

A

A change in a gene at a single nucleotide pair

39
Q

Missense mutations

A

The most common type of mutation, a base-pair substitution in which the new codon makes sense in that it still codes for an amino acid

40
Q

Nonsense mutation

A

A mutation that changes an amino acid codon to one of the three stop codons, resulting in a shorter and usually nonfunctional protein

41
Q

Insertion

A

A mutation involving the addition of one or more nucleotide pairs to a gene

42
Q

Deletion

A
  1. A deficiency in a chromosome resulting from the loss of a fragment through breakage
  2. A mutational loss of one or more nucleotide pairs from a gene
43
Q

Frameshift mutation

A

A mutation occurring when the number of nucleotides inserted or deleted is not a multiple of three, resulting in the improper grouping of the following nucleotides into codons

44
Q

Mutagens

A

A chemical or physical agent that interacts with DNA and causes a mutation

45
Q

Domains

A
  1. A taxonomic category above the kingdom level

2. An independently folding part of a protein

46
Q

Mutations

A

A change in the DNA of a gene, ultimately creating genetic diversity

47
Q

Base-pair substitution

A

A type of point mutation; the replacement of one nucleotide and its partner in the complementary DNA strand by another pair of nucleotides