Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

LF104 - Molecules, Cells and organisms > Lecture 8 - DNA replication > Flashcards

Lecture 8 - DNA replication Flashcards

1
Q

How many kb are in the E. Coli genome?

A

4639 kb

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

What is the space between each base in E. Coli?

A

0.34nm

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

What is the total length of the E. Coli genome?

A

1.6mm

(E. coli cell is 1-2 micro-metres)

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

How is bacterial DNA compacted?

A

By looping and supercoiling

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

How many Gbp is our human haploid genome?

A

3.2 Gbp

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

In the typical somatic cell, how many Gbp of DNA are there?

A

6.4

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

What is the total length of DNA in our typical somatic cell?

A

2.2 m

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

What is the diameter of the nucleus?

A

6 um

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

How is eukaryotic DNA organised?

A

DNA duplex - 2nm diameter

Wrapped around histones to make nucleosomes - 11nm diameter

Coiled to make chromatin fibre - 30 nm diameter

Coiled chromatin fibre - 300nm diameter

Coiled coil - 700nm diameter

Metaphase chromatid - 1400nm diameter

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

How often are there errors in DNA replication?

A

1,000,000,000,000

1 x 10^9

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

What did Watson and Crick predict with the mechanism of replication?

A

Each DNA strand can act as a template to build a complementary copy

Daughter molecules would have the same sequence as the parental molecules

Semi-conservative replication = one new and one old strand

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

What were the 2 predictions Watson and Crick made?

A
  1. Strands must be anti-parallel: A with T, G with C
  2. DNA replication should be semi-conservative: each can act as a template for DNA replication
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How many hydrogen bonds are there between A and T?

A

2 hydrogen bonds

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

How many hydrogen bonds are there between G and C?

A

3 hydrogen bonds

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

What were the 3 suggested models of DNA?

A
  1. Semi-conservative: one parent and one new
  2. Conservative: parent conserved, daughter helix is new
  3. Dispersive: parent helix broken into fragments and assembled into 2 new helices
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is caesium chloride equilibrium density gradient centrifugation?

A

Technique that separates molecules on the basis of their densities

17
Q

When was the Meselson and Stahl experiment?

18
Q

What was the Meselson and Stahl experiment?

A
  1. Macromolecules suspended in CsCl solution
  2. Solution spun forming CsCl density gradient
  3. Growth E.Coli in either N-14 or N-15
  4. Spun at 140,000 times the force of gravity
19
Q

What was the Meselson and Stahl ‘most beautiful experiment?

A
  1. E. Coli grown for 14 generation on 15-N medium
  2. E.Coli washed and switched to 14-N medium
  3. Mixed with CsCl
  4. Solution spun at 140,000 times force of gravity forming density gradient
  5. Photographed under UV light and developed
20
Q

What were the results from the ‘most beautiful experiment?’

A

Only 3 forms of DNA seen: heavy, light and hybrid

After 1 gen - all DNA hybrid

Later generations - gradual loss of hybrid in N-14/N-15 and replacement with light DNA

DNA is semi-conservative

21
Q

What was the Arthur Kornberg and the discovery of DNA polymerase experiment?

A

Took E. Coli protein extracts
Worked out conditions required for the extract

Expectation that there would be an enzyme capable of replicating DNA

Reaction mixture treated with acid - dNTPs remain soluble but polynucleotides precipitate

Phosphorus found in pellet - new DNA present

Conclusion: new strands extended in 5’ –> 3’ direction by a polymerase

22
Q

What was required by Arthur Kornberg to discover DNA polymerase?

A
  1. Template DNA
  2. Deoxynucleotide triphosphates
  3. Co-factor = Magnesium ion
  4. Energy source = ATP
  5. Primer = free piece of DNA with a free 3’ OH
23
Q

What are the other acitvities of DNA polymerase?

A

5’-3’ DNA polymerising activity

3’-5’ exonuclease activity - mistake correcting

5’-‘3 exonuclease activity

Suggests DNA polymerase has editing/proof-reading functions and can correct mistakes

24
Q

What DNA polymerase is used in the DNA replication of E.Coli?

A

DNA polymerase III

Lacks a 5’-3’ exonuclease activity

25
How are nucleotides incorporated into DNA?
2 phosphates are removed by breaking bond Last phosphate is incorporated into the chain
26
What is DNA polymerase commonly envisaged as?
3 fingered hand Conformational change (fingers tighten) only around the correct nucleotide DNA in palm - provides environment where pyrophosphate is removed and nucleotide incorporated into strand
27
What did Arthur Kornberg realise?
1. dNTPs are required for DNA synthesis 2. DNA contains only mono-phosphate residues, so pyrophosphate is released 3. Radiolabelled dNTPSs can be used to test whether DNA strands are anti-parallel
28
How can nucleotide incorporation be used to test DNA strand polarity
Radiolabelled sugar-proximal phosphate has 2 phosphates removed Radiolabelled nucleotide is then incorporated into the DNA DNA is then degraded with DNase that cuts the ester bond between the phosphate and 5' Radiolabelled phosphate attached to nearest neighbour
28
How can nucleotide incorporation be used to test DNA strand polarity?
Radiolabelled sugar-proximal phosphate has 2 phosphates removed Radiolabelled nucleotide is then incorporated into the DNA DNA is then degraded with DNase that cuts the ester bond between the phosphate and 5' Radiolabelled phosphate attached to nearest neighbour Proportions of each base can only match if strands are anti-parallel
29
How can editing be done with DNA polymerase?
1. Wrong nucleotide can be incorporated at low frequency 2. Leaves unpaired 3' -OH end that blocks further elongation by DNA polymerase 3. DNA polymerase 3' - 5' exonuclease activity removes mismatch to leave a base-paired 3' -OH end DNA replication can resume
30
What are the different active sites in the palm/ DNA polymerase?
One for polymerisation One for editing - has 3'-5' exonuclease activity
31
What is the problem with the replication fork?
Replication requires priming - primers are extended growing in 5'-3' direction One strand supports continual synthesis = leading strand One strands new priming and extension as DNA need to be built in 5'-3' = lagging strand, replication broken into small price that must each be extended DNA replication must be asymmetric

LF104 - Molecules, Cells and organisms (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions