Replication Flashcards
What are inferred types of models for DNA Replication?
Conservative: original model is conserved when synthesizing a completely new double stranded DNA
Semiconservative: each parental “old” strand serves as a template for synthesis of “new” daughter DNA strand
Dispersive: original molecule is replicated and each strand in the daughter molecule is a combination of synthesized and parent DNA
What is the Meselson and Stahl experiment?
Two groups of cells of E. coli grown, one with nitrogenous bases of N15 isotope and the other with N14 isotope. N15 E. coli is added to N14 medium. DNA is extracted and spun via density gradient centrifugation.
How does the Meselson and Stahl Experiment determine the correct model of DNA replication?
After the first replication, density gradient medium reveals a single band of N14/N15 (ruling out conservative), after second replication medium reveals two bands for N14 and N15 (ruling out dispersive)
What is the bidirectional progression of replication of E. coli?
- Replisome binds to DNA and initiates synthesis at replication forks
- Replication forks continue synthesis in opposite directions
- Replication forks hit terminus of replication and collide, releasing two chromosome copies
How is the replication of E. coli’s chromosome discovered?
E. coli was fed radioactive precursor (thymine) and was exposed to film to demonstrate oriC (initiation site) and ter (termination. site) as well as the replication bubble.
What is a consensus sequence
a common nucleotide sequence or amino acid sequence found in highly conserved regions of DNA or RNA or proteins
What are the regions on the E. coli oriC?
- AT rich regions
- Sites for DnaA binding
- Methylation sites
- Sites for FIS and IHF proteins
What are the steps of initiation of replication?
- dnaA binds to high affinity dna A binding sites, which is used as an anchor to cooperatively bind ATP-dnaA complexes to the low affinity AT-rich region
- Topological stress breaks H-bonds and unwinds AT-rich region with the helps of HU, which provides a higher affinity to ATP-dnaA molecules
- ssb proteins stabilize single stranded DNA which prevents helix formation
- 6 monomers of dnaC recruits 6 monomers of dnaB onto each single strand
- dnaB monomers form a hexameric ring around each strand and dnaC monomers dissociate
- After helixase moves outward a bit, primase is loaded behind each helicase
- Sliding clamp is loaded between helicase and DNA polymerase III, while ATP-dnaA hydrolyzes to ADP-dnaA which promotes dissociation
- Primase lays down RNA primers that has 3’ OH ends that will be recognized by DNA polymerase III for DNA synthesis
What is a kilobase pair and a megabase pair?
kbp: 1,000 base pairs
mbp: 1,000,000 base pairs
What are the levels involved in supercoiling?
lvl 1 - double helix
lvl 2 - supercoils within the double helix via DNA binding proteins
What is the genetic map of E. coli?
1%: tRNa, rRNA, ncRNA
88%: enzyme encoding genes that may or may not be clustered together in an operon
What are plasmids?
Typically circular non-essential genes in addition to the chromosomes in a bacteria/archaea’s genome that encodes beneficial genes to host cell.
What are some of the beneficial genes plasmids encode?
Virulence, antibiotic resistance, bacteriocins, nitrogen fixation, bioremediation
What are the features of plasmid R100
- tra region (conjugation functions)
- IS10 (transposable elements)
- resistance determinants (resistance against heavy metals, antibiotics)
What are the precursor molecules of nucleotides that will be used in DNA synthesis?
Deoxynucleotide 5’triphosphate (dNTP). Added to the next molecules 3’ OH, and two terminal phosphates are removed.
What is the direction of DNA synthesis?
Starts with first 5’ phosphate, ends with last 3’ sugar
What protein does gene gyrAB encode?
DNA gyrase: cleaves strands of DNA and reseals the ends to replace supercoils ahead of the replisome
What protein does gene dnaA encode?
Origin binding protein: binds to oriC to open double helix
What protein does dnaC encode?
Helicase loader: loads helicase at origin
What does protein dnaB encode?
Helicase: unwinds double helix at replication fork
What protein does gene ssb encode?
Single strand binding protein: prevents single strands from annealing
What protein does gene dnaG encode?
Primase: primes new strands of DNA
What protein does gene dnaN encode?
Sliding clamp: holds DNA Polymerase III onto DNA
What protein does holA-E encode?
Clamp loader: loads DNA Polymerase III onto sliding clamp