Module 6: Reg. of Gene Expression (Global Gene Reg.) Flashcards
Global Gene Regulation
Refers to the coordinated and simultaneous regulation of MULTIPLE genes (of different operons)
In what overall instances is global gene regulation needed?
When an environmental change requires altered expression of a greater # of genes that are on different operons
AND
for cell responses that require the simultaneous increase and decrease of expression of different genes
Regulon
Collection of operons (genes + operators) that are globally affected by the SAME regulatory protein
Regulons contain genes that are…
coordinated to respond to the same regulatory systems
Examples of global gene regulation (2)
1) Catabolite repression (glucose preference in E.coli)
2) SOS Response
Catabolite Repression
Process of inhibiting operons that utilize alternative substrates (carbon sources/nutrients) by the presence of a preferred carbon source (usually glucose)
Catabolite repression in E.coli
Glucose presence inhibits pathways producing enzymes that catabolize OTHER nutrients/carbon sources
–> Allows for preference of glucose to be exhibited
CRP-cAMP complex regulates how many genes?
> 100 operons = Constitutes a major regulon!
What is one of the most characterized regulons?
SOS (DNA damage) Response System
SOS Response
One type of DNA repair systems that responds to SERIOUS DNA damage
= A final option for rescuing cells whose genomes have been seriously damaged!
The SOS system is a ______ system used for ________ that is activated upon__________
multi-gene (REGULON) system for wide-scale DNA repair that is ACTIVATED upon detection of DNA damage
Who famously studied DNA repair mechanism in its early stages?
Jean-Jaques Weigle
What did Jean-Jaques Weigle study?
Studied DNA repair via analysis of lambda phage infectivity in E.coli (both of which were treated and untreated with UV!)
What was Jean-Jaques Weigle’s hypothesis?
UV light exposure to E.coli triggers INDUCTION of repair of DNA-damaged phage in a process that also generates mutations
What was Jean-Jaques Weigle’s experiment (process)?
1) Treated lambda phage with UV light
2) Treated ONE group of E.coli with UV light (and the other group was untreated)
3) Infected UV-exposed and NON-UV E.coli cultures with the UV treated phages!
4) Observed production of phage progeny and whether any mutations arose
What were the observations of Jean-Jaques Weigle’s experiment?
UV Treated E.coli = Had > # of progeny produced BUT a > rate of mutation (as seen in the progeny)
NON-UV E.coli = Had < # of progeny produced BUT a < rate of mutation (as seen in the progeny)
= CORRELATION between infectivity and mutagenesis!
What relationship was observed in Jean-Jaques Weigle’s results?
A correlation between infectivity (# of produced progeny) and mutagenesis (# of mutations in the progeny)
What were the conclusions drawn from Jean-Jaques Weigle’s experiment?
The observed correlation suggests that:
1) UV treatment of host cells enhanced their ability to repair UV-induced DNA damage in phage DNA = greater phage replication
2) The DNA repair mechanism is error prone (greater # of mutations in the progeny)
Chloramphenicol
An antibiotic that functions by blocking protein synthesis in bacteria
After Jean-Jaques Weigle’s work, what was used to attempt to further characterize DNA repair mechanisms?
Studies were conducted using chloramphenicol!
In the chloramphenicol studies what was observed?
What was the conclusion? Future questions?
Observed = chloramphenicol treatment resulted in BLOCKED DNA repair!
Conclusion = DNA repair mechanism requires protein synthesis
New Question = Which proteins?
What did experiments with chloramphenicol discover?
Discovered that DNA repair mechanisms must require some amount of protein synthesis
(as DNA repair was shut down when protein synthesis was shut down)
Why was the lacZ promoter-probe transposon first used?
To identify which genes produced DNA repair proteins!
lacZ promoter probe transposon
A transposon with two distinct DNA regions:
1) Reporter Gene (lacZ without promoter)
2) Selection Gene (ampicillin resistance)