lecture 1 - Control of transcription and chromatin

Question 1

what is gene expression

Answer 1

the process by which information in genes (DNA) is decoded into protein

Question 2

what is A in mRNA

Answer 2

U

Question 3

what on the RNA pol binds to the DNA promoter

Answer 3

sigma 70

Question 4

once RNA pol has gained access to the template

Answer 4

sigma factor is released

Question 5

what type of enzyme is RNA polymerase

Answer 5

holoenzyme

Question 6

what does the promoter dictate

Answer 6

where transcription starts an how efficient it is

Question 7

points that are upstream of the transcription start site are given a

Answer 7

negative number

Question 8

eukaryotic basal promoter elements have

Answer 8

TATA box (-31 to -26)
initiator (-2 to +4)

Question 9

CpG islands

Answer 9

regions with high frequency of CG sequences
c residues in CgP islands escape methylation
if Cpg islands are methylated the gene is switched off

Question 10

UAS and enhancer

Answer 10

activator binding sites, increase transcription

Question 11

URS and silencer

Answer 11

repressor binding sites, prevent transcription

Question 12

general transcription factors

Answer 12

TFIIA
TFIIB
TFIID
TFIIE
TFIIH
TFIIF

Question 13

what do they do

Answer 13

form a complex on the TATA box, recruit RNA pol II to the promoter, direct initiation as start site

Question 14

TFIID binds to the TATA box and allows TFIIA and B to join

Answer 14

TFIIB signals recruitment of RNA pol II which brings TFIIF with it
final joining of the TFIIE and H

Question 15

transcription initiation by RNA pol II

Answer 15

helicase activity TFIIH separates the template strand at the start site - requires ATP
TFIIF moves down the template with pol II

Question 16

TFIID

Answer 16

13 subunits
binds to the TATA box and recruits TFIIB

Question 17

TFIIA

Answer 17

3 subunits
stabilises TFIID binding and anti repression function

Question 18

TFIIB

Answer 18

1 subunit
recruits RNA pol II-TFIIF and important for start site selection

Question 19

TFIIF

Answer 19

2 subunits
stimulates elongation and destabilises non specific RNA pol II - DNA interactions

Question 20

TFIIE

Answer 20

2 subunits
recruits TFIIH and modulates TFIIH activity

Question 21

TFIIH

Answer 21

9 subunits
promoter melting and clearance, CTD kinase activity and DNA repair coupling

Question 22

TFIIH can be divided into parts:

Answer 22

CORE and CAK

Question 23

CAK

Answer 23

contains one of the kinases that phosphorylates the CTD of RNA pol II

Question 24

TFIID =

Answer 24

TATA binding protein (TBP) + TVP associated factors (TAFs)
TBP is the central subunit of TFIID

Question 25

TBP sits on

Answer 25

DNA and brings all the different TAFs to the DNA

Question 26

TBP can direct the assembly of the PIC (pre initiation complex if

Answer 26

the promoter contains TATA box

Question 27

TAFs promote interaction of TFIID with

Answer 27

basal promoter and interact with activators

Question 28

TAFs recognise the

Answer 28

Inr (TAF 1 and 2) and the DPE (downstream promoter element TAF 6)

Question 29

TAFs provide an

Answer 29

interaction surface for activators