Set 2 Flashcards
Why study proteins?
They are key to cell function
Why do we always work at the RNA level in a laboratory?
Because DNA level is exactly the same in all of our cells
Who is behind the identification of DNA structure?
- Watson & Crick
- Wilson
- Rosalind Franklin
What is molecular genetics?
Study of how genes are turned on and off and how they affect phenotype
How did Watson and Crick come to the conclusion that DNA was double-stranded?
- Rosalind Franklin wrote in her lab book that DNA had two chains based on x-ray picture
- They based their model on her x-ray
- They did not give her acknowledgement
How does DNA become RNA?
- Transcription
- DNA sequence is enzymatically copied by an RNA polymerase to produce mRNA
How does RNA become protein?
- Translation
1) Protein is unwound by DNA helicase
2) RNA polymerase binds and recognizes the start site
3) RNA nucleotides (U rather than T) base pair with the DNA
4) Forms a chain of mRNA
Why do we need RNA?
- Because DNA is stuck in the nucleus; cannot pass through the nuclear envelope
- mRNA from transcription can pass through
What are transcription factors?
Proteins which assist the RNA polymerase in recognizing promoters, thus activating the gene
What are the two types of transcription factors?
- Gene-specific transcription factors
- General transcription factors
What are gene-specific transcription factors? Give an example.
- If they can activate a specific gene
- Ex: estrogen receptor
What are general transcription factors? How does it work?
- Activate all gene
- Bind to DNA regions within promoters and deliver the RNA polymerase to their respective promoter sites
What is CREM?
- cAMP responsive element modulator
- Transcription factor
- Regulated by the presence of KIF17b in the nucleus
- CREM is important in spermatogenesis (can cause complete arrest); may activate or suppress
What is alternative splicing? When does it occur?
- Method of processing mRNA
- Occurs when enzymes clip out segment of the middle or off the ends of the mRNA strand
Differentiate introns and exons.
- Introns: non-coding segments
- Exons: segments that encode proteins (exons = expressed)
- Introns are chopped out; exons are regions that are expressed
What are the three types of RNA?
- Messenger RNA
- Ribosomal RNA
- Transfer RNA
Explain what happens when mRNA is processed in the nucleus after it is made.
- Editing of mRNA
- Removal of introns addition of poly A tail and guanine cap
What happens after mRNA is processed in the nucleus?
It enters the cytosol where it works with rRNA and tRNA to direct translation
What is the function of tRNA?
Transfer specific amino acids (anticodon) to the mRNA, which is read in triplets at the ribosome
What is the function of rRNA?
- Interacts with tRNA during translation
- The mRNA can be found between 2 subunits
- The rRNA contains an enzyme that catalyzes the peptide bond between the new amino acids that are being formed
What processes proteins to make them functional?
- Chaperone molecules (supervision, protein folding)
- Enzymes in the cytosol, ER, and Golgi
Define a proteome.
All the proteins synthesized by a cell make up the cell’s proteome
What post-translational modifications of a protein after translation may occur?
- Folding and cross-links
- Cleavage into smaller peptides
- Addition of sugars, lipid, methyl groups, and phosphate groups
- Assembly into polymeric proteins
What does constitutively active mean?
Only becomes active when it needs to be