Gene Expression

Question 1

3 UTR

Answer 1

3’ untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated

Question 2

5 cap

Answer 2

a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5’ end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation

Question 3

5 UTR

Answer 3

5’ untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated

Question 4

Activator

Answer 4

protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription

Question 5

Catabolite activator protein (CAP)

Answer 5

protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available

Question 6

Cis-acting element

Answer 6

transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it

Question 7

Dicer

Answer 7

enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA

Question 8

DNA methylation

Answer 8

epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule

Question 9

Enhancer

Answer 9

segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene

Question 10

Epigenetic

Answer 10

heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence

Question 11

Eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)

Answer 11

protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation

Question 12

Gene expression

Answer 12

processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene

Question 13

Guanine diphosphate (GDP)

Answer 13

molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation

Question 14

guanosine triphosphate (GTP)

Answer 14

energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation

Question 15

histone acetylation

Answer 15

epigenetic modification that leads to gene expression; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group

Question 16

inducible operon

Answer 16

operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment

Question 17

initiation complex

Answer 17

protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation

Question 18

lac operon

Answer 18

operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose

Question 19

large 60S ribosomal subunit

Answer 19

second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein

Question 20

microRNA (miRNA)

Answer 20

small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them

Question 21

myc

Answer 21

oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells

Question 22

negative regulator

Answer 22

protein that prevents transcription

Question 23

operator

Answer 23

region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells

Question 24

operon

Answer 24

collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells

Question 25

poly-A tail

Answer 25

a series of adenine nucleotides that are attached to the 3' end of an mRNA to protect the end from degradation

Question 26

positive regulator

Answer 26

protein that increases transcription

Question 27

post-transcriptional

Answer 27

control of gene expression after the RNA molecule has been created but before it is translated into protein

Question 28

post-translational

Answer 28

control of gene expression after a protein has been created

Question 29

proteasome

Answer 29

organelle that degrades proteins

Question 30

repressor

Answer 30

protein that binds to the operator of prokaryotic genes to prevent transcription

Question 31

RISC

Answer 31

protein complex that binds along with the miRNA to the RNA to degrade it

Question 32

RNA stability

Answer 32

how long an RNA molecule will remain intact in the cytoplasm

Question 33

RNA-binding protein (RBP)

Answer 33

protein that binds to the 3' or 5' UTR to increase or decrease the RNA stability

Question 34

small 40S ribosomal subunit

Answer 34

ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein

Question 35

trans-acting element

Answer 35

transcription factor binding site found outside the promoter or on another chromosome that influences the transcription of a particular gene

Question 36

transcription factor

Answer 36

protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene

Question 37

transcription factor binding site

Answer 37

sequence of DNA to which a transcription factor binds

Question 38

transcriptional start site

Answer 38

site at which transcription begins

Question 39

trp operon

Answer 39

series of genes necessary to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells

Question 40

tryptophan

Answer 40

amino acid that can be synthesized by prokaryotic cells when necessary

Question 41

untranslated region

Answer 41

segment of the RNA molecule that is not translated into protein. These regions lie before (upstream or 5') and after (downstream or 3') the protein-coding region