Gene expression I from gene to RNA Flashcards

1
Q

what’s a UTR?

A

an untranslated region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what’s a spacer?

A

region of non-coding DNA between genes (introns are non-coding within genes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what’s a cistron?

A

sections of DNA or RNA molecule that codes for a specific polypeptide in protein synthesis in prokaryotic DNA– same as a gene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is RNA polymerase?

A

an enzyme that synthesizes RNA on a DNA or RNA template

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what’s a promoter?

A

nucleotide sequence, upstream of a gene, to which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transciption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

define intron

A

a non coding region within a discontinuous gene in eukaryotes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

define exon

A

a coding region within a discontinuous gene in eukaroytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

define genome

A

the entire genetic sequence of a living organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what’s the sense strand?

A

DNA strand directed in the 3’ to 5’ direction and is not transcribed into RNA (it has the same nucleotide sequence to RNA but with T instead of U)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what’s the antisense strand?

A

DNA strand directed in the 5’ to 3’ direction which is transcribed into RNA (contains the complementary nucleotide sequence to RNA)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is a gene?

A

a genetic unit containing information to make a functional product (RNA and/or protein)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what 4 bits of information does a gene contain?

A
  • structural
  • temporal
  • positional
  • inducible
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what’s structural information?

A

coding DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what’s temporal information?

A

when genes should be on or off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what’s positional information?

A

where genes should be on or off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what’s inducible information?

A

when gene is responsive to external stimuli e.g. environmental

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what type of genetic information is in all organisms?

A

structural and inducible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what type of genetic information is in more developed/ multicellular organisms?

A

structural
temporal
positional
inducible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

is it true that more complex/ developed organisms have more genes?

A

yes– to an extent

not always true e.g. humans have less genes than pieris japonica (a plant)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what components are seen in a prokaryotic gene?

A
transcription start
promoter 
leader
coding regions (cistrons)
spacers 
transcription termination
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

are transcription start/stop sites the same as translation start/stop sites?

A

no

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is a leader?

A

apparently useless part of DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

where are spacers found?

A

between cistrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what’s lost during transcription? (in prokaryotes)

A

promoter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what’s lost during translation? (in prokaryotes)

A

leader
promoter
terminator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

what does the promoter contain?

A

TATA boxes (A-T rich)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

what components are seen in a eukaryotic gene?

A
enhancer
introns
promoter
transciption start 
exons 
transcription termination
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

what word describes enhancers and promoters?

A

they’re regulatory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

where are UTRs found?

A

at the end of each section of mature mRNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

what is mature mRNA?

A

mRNA which has had introns spliced out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

where does mature mRNA go?

A

transported out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm to make proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

what 2 factors affect the direction in which the polymerase travels?

A
  • promoter

- directionality of the sequence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

what’s the transcription bubble?

A

section of unwound DNA found during transcription

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

what happens at the transcription bubble?

A

RNA polymerase binds to DNA
melts double strand
polymerase polymerises from template strand in the 5’ to 3’ direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

how does the polymerase know where and when to bind to DNA, start transcription, stop transcription etc.?

A

it’s all in the gene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

what is TBP?

A

TATA binding Protein- a component of the transcription factor TEIID with ancillary roles in the recognition of the TATA box

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

how many subunits is the Prokaryotic RNA polymerase made up of?

A

6

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

which subunits and how many is prokaryotic RNA polymerase made up of?

A
1 sigma (O)
2 alpha (a)
2 beta (B)
1 omega (w)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

what is sigma in prokaryotic RNA polymerase for?

A

promoter recognition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

what is alpha in prokaryotic RNA polymerase for?

A

involved in assembly and activation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

what is beta in prokaryotic RNA polymerase used for?

A

catalysis and termination of transcription

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

what is omega in prokaryotic RNA polymerase used for?

A

involved in assembly and folding of some genes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

which is the largest part of prokaryotic RNA polymerase?

A

betas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

what’s an enzyme called when it has all of its subunits?

A

Holoenzyme

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

is prokaryotic RNA polymerase fairly large?

A

yes- covers around 70bp of DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

which subinit can polymerase function without?

A

omega

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

what does the polymerase do first on DNA?

A

opens up DNA at the transcription site

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

what happens to the sigma once the polymerase begins to polymerise?

A

it is lost/ discarded

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

why is the sigma discarded?

A

it allows the polymerase to bind to the promoter site, however after this the polymerase has no use for it and needs to be able to bind to other sequences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

where does the lost sigma go?

A

to join up with another polymerase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

what is the polymerase called when the sigma has gone?

A

the core enzyme (aaBBw)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

how many type of RNA polymerase do prokaryotes have?

A

1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

How many types of RNA polymerase do eukaryotes have?

A

3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

what are the 3 eukaryotic RNA polymerases?

A

polymerase I
polymerase II
polymerase III

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

what does polymerase I transcribe? (1)

A

ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

what does polymerase II transcribe?(2)

A

protein coding genes (mRNA)

small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

what does polymerase III transcribe? (3)

A
transfer RNA (tRNA)
ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)
58
Q

which eukaryotic RNA polymerase are simple?

A

I and III

59
Q

which eukaryotic RNA polymerase are complex?

A

II

60
Q

Genes which make different types of RNA have: (3)

A
  • different architecture
  • use different RNA polymerases
  • each type of RNA polymerase needs a distinct set of accessory factors
61
Q

what is meant by genes having different architecture?

A

different promoter and coding regions

62
Q

what is meant by each type of RNA polymerase needing a distinct set of accessory factors?

A

needs other factors to work as well as their main subunits

63
Q

what are the first subunits of the RNA polymerase II to bind to the DNA to be transcribed?

A

TFIID (Transcription Factor Polymerase II D)
TFIIA
TFIIB

64
Q

what does TFIID do?

A

recognises a specific region of the promoter

acts as a saddle for another set of factors- TBP (TATA Binding Region)

65
Q

what is TFIID?

A

a TATA (region of DNA) Binding Protein (TBP)

66
Q

what is TBP similar to?

A

the sigma factor in Prokaryotic RNA polymerase

67
Q

what part of the DNA is the TBP associated with?

A

minor-groove

68
Q

what part of the DNA do most DNA proteins interact with?

A

major-groove

69
Q

What does TFIIA do?

A

helps TFIID to bind to DNA

70
Q

what was TFIIB do?

A

sets distance from TATA element to start site

71
Q

how many subunits make up the entirety of RNA polymerase II?

A

10

72
Q

what are the important subunits of RNA polymerase II?(8)

A
TFIID
TFIIA
TFIIB
TFIIF
TFIIE
TFIIJ
TFIIH
Pol II
73
Q

What do TFIIE, F, H, J and K do? (6)

A

interact with D-A-B complex
blocks non-specific binding of polymerase II (like sigma factor)
promoter clearance- (helping the polymerase move of the promoter and start transcribing the gene)
Helicase activity (unwinding DNA)
Processivity/ elongation- (Polymerase will polymerise a section then stop, but the other factors alllow the polymerase II to keep going for longer)
transcription- coupled DNA repair

74
Q

what sort of RNA do the genes that RNA polymerase II transcribe make?

A

rRNA

74
Q

what sort of RNA do the genes that RNA polymerase II transcribe make?

A

rRNA

75
Q

generally, what is the apparatus and promoter sequence of the RNA polymerase I like?

A

simple

75
Q

generally, what is the apparatus and promoter sequence of the RNA polymerase I like?

A

simple

76
Q

RNA polymerase I cannot access DNA without specific…

A

accessories

76
Q

RNA polymerase I cannot access DNA without specific…

A

accessories

77
Q

what is the polymerase I promoter made up of?

A

2 sequences- core and UCE

77
Q

what is the polymerase I promoter made up of?

A

2 sequences- core and UCE

78
Q

in RNA polymerase I, what is SL1?

A

another general factor, like TFIID, multi subunit protein, containing TBP

78
Q

what is TFIIIB made up of?

A

TBP (TATA Binding Protein) + 2 polymerase III specific TAFs

79
Q

what is the upstream binding factor in RNA polymerase I?

A

factor that binds to UCE and core element in DNA

79
Q

what is the upstream binding factor in RNA polymerase I?

A

factor that binds to UCE and core element in DNA

80
Q

when is transcription started in RNA polymerase I?

A

when RNA polymerase I binds to the complex

80
Q

when is transcription started in RNA polymerase I?

A

when RNA polymerase I binds to the complex

81
Q

in RNA polymerase III, where is the promoter?

A

within the coding region

82
Q

what happens at RNA polymerase III for initiation?

A
  • TFIIIC binds to the B box
    then recruits TFIIIB
    once TFIIB is recruited, TFIIIC is dispensable
    RNA polymerase III is rectruited and initiates transcription
83
Q

what is TFIIIB made up of?

A

TBP (TATA Binding Protein) + 2 polymerase III specific TAFs

84
Q

define operon

A

a cluster of genes transcribed by the same promoter that give rise to polycistronic mRNA (encodes several proteins)- genes usually related

85
Q

define lac operon

A

a complete genetic unit containing genes for all the enzymes for a particular pathway and gene(s) which regulate it

86
Q

what is the Plac?

A

promoter

87
Q

what is the Olac?

A

operator

88
Q

in the lac operon, what are the 3 subunits for a polyamide?

A

lacZ, lacY, lacA

89
Q

what protein does lacZ translate to?

A

B- Galactosidase

90
Q

what does B-Galactosidase do?

A

hydrolyses lactose to galactose and glucose

91
Q

what’s the main source of energy for bacteria?

A

glucose

92
Q

what sort of sugar is lactose?

A

Disaccharide

93
Q

what monosaccharides is lactose made up of?

A

Galactose and glucose

94
Q

in what situation is the lac operon activated?

A

when there’s no glucose available but there’s lactose available

95
Q

what does the lac repressor tetramer do under normal conditions?

A

prevents the transcription of the gene required when lactose is present

96
Q

what happens when lactose isn’t present?

A

lac operon repressed
repressor binds to lacO
prevents RNA polymerase from clearing promoter

97
Q

what does lacA translate to?

A

lactose transacetylase

98
Q

what is lactose in terms of how it affects the operon?

A

an inducer

99
Q

what happens to the lac operon when lactose runs out

A

the system will switch off

100
Q

what is the lacI?

A

lac repressor

101
Q

what does lacY translate to?

A

lactose permease

102
Q

what does lactose permease do?

A

facilitates the entry of lactose into cell

103
Q

what does lacA translate to?

A

lactose transacetylase

104
Q

what does a cis-acting factor do?

A

regulates DNA it’s directly joined to

105
Q

what does a trans-acting factor do?

A

regulates DNA anywhere

106
Q

is a cis-acting factor dominant or recessive?

A

dominant

107
Q

is a trans-acting factor dominant or recessive?

A

recessive

108
Q

what is the CRP?

A

Catabolite Repression Protein

109
Q

what does a lacOc (constitutive) mutation cause?

A

the lac operon to be permanently switched on, as the operon isn’t repressed

110
Q

is a lacOc mutation dominant or recessive?

A

dominant

111
Q

is a lacOc mutation cis or trans- dominant?

A

cis

112
Q

in a lacOc mutation, would adding a repressor make a difference?

A

no

113
Q

what does a lacI- mutation cause?

A

the lacI gene be permanently switched on as the repressor is mutated

114
Q

if glucose is low,

A

cAMP is high, so CRP is active

115
Q

what is catabolite repression?

A

repression of the lac-operon in the presence of glucose

116
Q

what is CRP?

A

Catabolite Repressor Protein

117
Q

what is CAP?

A

Catabolite Activator Protein

118
Q

what does the Trp repressor do?

A

binds to operator when tryptophan is present- prevents transcription

119
Q

how does the CRP bind?

A

using cyclic AMP (cAMP)

120
Q

if glucose is high…

A

cAMP is low, so CRP is inactive

121
Q

if glucose is low,

A

cAMP is high, so CRP is active

122
Q

is catabolite repression an example of a cis or trans- acting repressor?

A

trans

123
Q

what is the Trp operon used to make?

A

Tryptophan

124
Q

what’s different about promoters and enhancers positionally?

A

enhancers are independent of position and orientation, whereas promoters can be affected by these factors

125
Q

what does the Trp repressor do?

A

binds to operator when tryptophan is present- prevents transcription

126
Q

how is eukaryotic DNA organised?

A

into chromatin

127
Q

what does DNA coated in chromatin do in terms of transcription factors?

A

it presents a physical barrier

128
Q

when a gene is transcribed what happens to the chromatin around it?

A

it changes

129
Q

what’s the chain of events in the signal tranduction pathway, starting with the ligand-receptor interaction at the cell plasma membrane?

A

there’s then the generation of a 2nd messenger small molecule

this activates protein kinases

causing the regulation of transcription factor activity
charge, structure and protein-protein interactions

DNA binding activation nuclear localisation, degradation

affects DNA activation

130
Q

where is the regulatory information situated?

A

the enhancer

131
Q

what’s different about promoters and enhancers positionally?

A

enhancers are independent of position and orientation, whereas promoters can be affected by these factors

132
Q

in transcription of eukaryotes, how is the issue of a large distance between the enhancer and promoter solved?

A

they are looped out

133
Q

how does histone acetylation make DNA acceptable for transcription?

A

changes the lysine tails from positive to negatively charged, causing the histones to be repelled by the negatively changed DNA

134
Q

what do ATP- dependent chromatin modification complexes do?

A

also make DNA to be transcribed accessible

135
Q

what are signal transduction pathways?

A

how a signal from outside a cell can interact with the cell and which then interacts with the nucleus and affect transcription factors