Regulating Eukaryotic Genes Flashcards Preview

AP Biology 2014 > Regulating Eukaryotic Genes > Flashcards

Flashcards in Regulating Eukaryotic Genes Deck (14)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

DNA methylation

A

occurs when methyl groups attach to DNA bases, thereby making it more difficult for transcription factors to transcribe the DNA – associated with long-term inactivation of genes

2
Q

nucleosomes

A

a bundle of eight histone molecules that form tightly knit complexes

3
Q

acetylation

A

histone molecules loosen their grip on the DNA molecule when acetyl groups attach – associated with activated transcription

4
Q

methylation

A

occurs when methyl groups methylate histones, thereby condensing chromatin

5
Q

proteasomes

A

“giant protein complexes that bind to protein molecules and degrade them” (Cliffs 139).

6
Q

X inactivation

A

occurs when one pair of a female’s X chromosomes are randomly inactivated in every cell

7
Q

protein-phosphorylating enzymes

A

initiate protein activation

8
Q

spliceosomes

A

enzymes that splice out introns and connect exons, through RNA processing

9
Q

enhancer

A

may be found either upstream or downstream to the regulatory gene; because of its distance from the “gene it influences, the DNA segment containing the enhancer folds in a way that can join the general transcription factors and RNA polymerase on the promoter” (Cliffs 139).

10
Q

general transcription factors

A

“binding to the promoter region, these proteins are required by all transcription events to successfully initiate transcription by RNA polymerase” (Cliffs 139).

11
Q

ubiquitin

A

is a protein that marks nonfunctional proteins for destruction

12
Q

RNA processing

A

the different ways in which mRNA can be spliced allow a single gene to code for proteins that are specific to that cell

13
Q

alternative RNA splicing

A

depending on which RNA segments are treated as exons and introns, different mRNA molecules can be produced from the same original transcript

14
Q

RNAi (miRNA or siRNA)

A

miRNA = microRNAs siRNA = small interfering RNAs RNAi degrade an RNA strand by binding to it, and thereby can possibly block RNA translation