Lecture 3: Genomes, Gene Regulation and Genetic Networks Flashcards
Enhancers
What are they, what do they do, and where are they?
Transcription Facilitation & Control
- DNA motifs that bind to transcription factors
- Upregulate assembly of pre-initiation complex (PIC)
- At a distant core promoter
Silencers
What are they and what do they do? Actively vs passively?
Transcription Facilitation & Control
- DNA motifs that bind to transcription factors
- Downregulate RNA transcription
- Actively: interfere with PIC assembly
- Passively: prevent TFs from binding to enhancers
Core Promoters
What are they, what do they do? What do they consist of?
Transcription Facilitation & Control
- Small portion of promoter
- Recruits RNA polymerase II
- Dictate position & direction of transcription
- Consists of: TTS (transcription start site) and TATA box
What is the
ENCODE Project
ENCODE Project
Encyclopedia of DNA Elements
Goals of the ENCODE Project
ENCODE Project
- Define all functional elements encoded in human genomes
What is a functional element?
ENCODE Project
A discrete genome segment that:
* encodes a defined product
OR
* displays a reproducible biochemical structure
Biochemical structure: i.e. protein binding, chromatin structure, etc.
What are the major implications about the functionality of non-coding DNA sequences?
ENCODE project
majority of genome is for gene regulation rather than protein function
What are some examples for why the genome is complex?
Complexity of the genome
- Gene fusion
- Intermingled short RNA & long ncRNAs
- Gene network
