Exam 1 Week 2 Flashcards
(273 cards)
Describe the terms Sense Strand and Antisense Strand:
- Antisense Strand: The template strand of DNA being used to transcribe RNA.
- Sense Strand: The strand of DNA not being transcribed that will be identical to the RNA transcript.
4 Differences between DNA synthesis and RNA synthesis:
- RNA Polymerase vs. DNA Polymerase
- RiboNTP’s vs. DeoxyriboNTP’s
- RNA Polymerase DOESN’T require a Primer, while DNA Polymerase 1 lays down a primer.
- Uracil vs. Thymine
Role of MicroRNA’s:
Silencing/Enhancing genes during transcription
Difference in RNA Polymerase in Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes:
- Prokaryotes: Only 1 RNA Polymerase
- Eukaryotes: THREE different ones:
- RNA Pol. 1: rRNA transcription
- RNA Pol. 2: mRNA transcription (+snRNA and miRNA)
- RNA Pol. 3: tRNA transcription (+snRNA)
Describe the regions of a prokaryotic gene:
- Promoter: Upstream of the coding region, initial binding site of transcriptional machinery.
- Coding Sequence: The DNA SEQUENCE that is transcribed into RNA.
- Terminator: Downstream, where transcription will stop.
How can we tell if a base lies in the promoter region, rather than the coding region?
It will be given a (-) designation
Describe Prokaryotic Promoter Sequences vs. Eukaryotic Promoter Sequences:
- Prokaryotic: Only 2 main sequences ensure proper initiation site…
a. ) -10 consensus sequence
b. ) -35 consensus sequence (Pribnow Box) - Eukaryotic: High variability in multiple consensus sequences….(allows fine-tuning of transcription).
a. ) GC Box: -70 to -200
b. ) TATA Box: -20 to -35
c. ) CAAT Box: -80
Describe Prokaryotic Transcription: (5)
- (RNA Polymerase + Sigma Factor) binds to -10 and -35 regions of promoter.
- DNA is unwound in the -10 region
- After transcription of 8 or 9 nucleotides, Sigma Factor dissociates from the core polymerase.
- Polymerization proceeds as RNA Polymerase unwinds the DNA molecule.
- Termination sequence is transcribed and transcription stops.
Function of Rifampin:
What is it used to treat?
- Inhibits Initiation of transcription
- Binds to PROKARYOTIC RNA Polymerase and blocks formation of 1st phosphodiester bond.
- Used to treat TUBERCULOSIS.
5 Factors Required For Transcription Initiation in Eukaryotes:
- TF2D: Distorts the helix, recruitment of other factors.
- TATA Box-Binding Protein: Subunit of TF2D
- TF2B: Recognition of initiation site
- TF2E: Recognition of initiation site
- TF2H: Helicase that unwinds the DNA, also has kinase activity to phosphorylate RNA Polymerase and activate it.
When will transcription factors dissociate from the Basal Transcriptional Machinery?
After they have stabilized and activated RNA Polymerase at the promoter region and initiation site, but PRIOR to initiation itself.
What specifically makes up the Basal transcriptional Machinery?
- RNA Pol. TWO
2. Transcription Factors
Activators/Repressors:
- PROTEINS that bind (with Adaptor Molecules) to enhancers/suppressor gene sequences in the promoter.
- When bound, they increase/decrease transcription of certain genes as DNA folds and is able to interact with them more.
What is Amanita Phalloides and how does it function?
- Death Cap Mushroom
- It produces a toxin called Alpha Amanitin that inhibits RNA Pol. TWO.
- So as it moves through your body, it stops mRNA synthesis and therefore protein synthesis along the way.
How is Alpha Amanitin poisoning treated?
High doses of penicillin can inhibit its function in the liver
Give the 2 types of antibiotics (and examples) that can inhibit Topoisomerases:
- Courmarins: Novobiocin
- Quinolones: Nalidixic Acid and Ciprofloxacin
i. e. “C.N.N.” stops supercoiling
Describe Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic termination:
- Intrinsic: Terminator possesses palindromic sequences with internal complementarity that form HAIRPIN loops. These are G-C RICH structures that destabilize the transcription complex and cause it to dissociate.
- Extrinsic: Hairpin loops aren’t sufficient to destabilize, so Rho Protein follows the transcriptional machinery and separates RNA from DNA to pull the machinery off.
How is Rho protein recruited for Extrinsic termination?
It binds to the recognition site at the beginning of transcription and is following the RNA Pol. the entire time, so when RNA Pol. stalls at the terminator hairpin loops, Rho is able to catch up and pull the RNA off of the DNA.
What is the function of Actinomycin D?
- (Anti-Cancer) Inhibits DNA strand separation in both prok. and euk.
- It INTERCALATES between and binds too tightly to double stranded DNA and therefore inhibits BOTH TRANSCRIPTION AND DNA REPLICATION.
* And therefore cell division too*
Describe the general structure of mRNA: (5)
- The 5’-UTR
- Start Codon (AUG)
- Protein Coding Sequence
- Stop Codon (UGA, UAG, UAA)
- The 3’-UTR
How is eukaryotic mRNA different from prokaryotic mRNA?
Eukaryotic mRNA has:
- A 7-methyl Guanasine CAP on the 5’ end.
- A Polyadenylated Tail at the 3’ end.
- Splicing of Introns
How is bacterial mRNA Polycistronic?
Bacterial mRNA’s can have MULTIPLE coding sequences with spacer sequences in between. This way they can coordinate transcription of multiple proteins for the same pathway/enzyme/mechanism all at once.
How does eukaryotic mRNA come into contact with the proteins responsible for its post-transcriptional modification?
RNA Polymerase 2 POSSESSES a set a pre-mRNA processing proteins on its tails and they are transferred to the mRNA after about 25 bases have been transcribed
i.e. Capping factors, Poly-A factors, Splicing Factors
4 Steps of 5’-Capping Mechanism:
- Phosphatase: Removes a phosphate from the 5’ end of the mRNA.
- Guanylyl Transferase: Adds a GMP to the 5’ end.
- Guanine-7-methyl Transferase: Adds a methyl group to position 7 of the terminal guanine.
- 2’-O-Methyl-Transferase: Adds another methyl group to the 2’-O position of the NEXT TO LAST base on the 5’ end.
* i.e. P.G.G.2*