12: Gene Expression Flashcards
Module 3, Lesson 1
An organism’s genome encodes…
Functional molecules
____ and ____ are functional molecules.
RNA and proteins
True or false:
The proportion of the genome that codes for functional molecules is constant across all species.
False
Approximately ____ of the human genome codes for functional molecules.
1-2%
A discrete nucleotide that codes for RNA or protein is called a…
Gene
____ is the process by which DNA is converted into RNA.
Transcription
____ is the process by which RNA is converted into polypeptides.
Translation
The central dogma of biology states that…
The output of gene expression is proteins.
The central dogma of biology describes the process by which…
DNA is converted into RNA, which is then converted into proteins.
The enzyme that synthesizes an RNA copy of DNA template strands is…
RNA polymerase
Like DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase catalyzes…
Phosphodiester bond formation
RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from the ____ end to the ____ end.
5’ to 3’
(the same as DNA polymerase)
RNA polymerase uses ____ strand(s) of DNA as a template.
1
True or false:
RNA polymerase requires a primer to begin synthesis.
False
Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase can begin synthesis without a primer.
To transcribe RNA, RNA polymerase must be located at the…
Promoter
What is the promoter?
A sequence of nucleotide that serves as the binding site upstream (in front of) the gene to be transcribed.
Transcription begins at the ____, which is the nucleotide designated…
Start site ; +1
List the five main types of RNA.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA)
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
- Transfer RNA (tRNA)
- Small-nuclear RNA (snRNA)
- Micro RNA (miRNA)
What are the functions of messenger RNA?
(two)
- Acts as an intermediate in the flow of genetic information
- Codes for proteins
What are the functions of ribosomal RNA?
(two)
- Interacts with proteins to form the ribosome
- Some catalyze protein synthesis
What is the function of transfer RNA?
Uses information from mRNA to deliver the correct amino acid during translation
What is the function of small-nuclear RNA?
Involved in pre-mRNA splicing (removing non-coding sequences from the mRNA)
What is the function of micro RNA?
Regulates the expression of some genes
Which types of RNA are not involved in translation?
snRNA
miRNA
List the main steps of the initiation phase of transcription.
- RNA polymerase binds to the promoter, along with the sigma subunit
- RNA polymerase reaches the transcription start site
- RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA helix
- The first complementary RNA nucleotide is incorporated
The strand of DNA from which RNA is synthesized is termed the…
Template strand
The strand of DNA which the completed RNA strand is nearly identical to is the…
Coding strand
The new RNA molecule is synthesized antiparallel to the…
Template strand
During transcription, the complementary base for adenine becomes…
Uracil
The elongation phase of transcription begins after about ____ nucleotide(s) are synthesized.
10
List the 3 major components of the transcription bubble.
- RNA polymerase
- Part of the exposed template DNA strand
- Part of the new RNA base-paired to the template DNA
Transcription continues until…
A terminator sequence is encountered and transcribed.
The terminator sequence codes for RNA that…
Pairs to itself, creating a hairpin structure
The hairpin structure formed by the terminator sequence disrupts…
The interactions between DNA, RNA, and RNA polymerase
In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the…
Nucleus
True or false:
Both eukaryotes and prokaryotes have only one kind of RNA polymerase.
False
Eukaryotes have three different RNA polymerases.
In eukaryotes, mRNA is synthesized by…
RNA polymerase II
(also the best understood of the three RNA polymerases)
List the major differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic transcription.
(four)
- Eukaryotes have 3 RNA polymerases
- The promoter’s position and sequence is different
- Eukaryotic transcription is initiated by transcription factors
- The initial mRNA molecule is modified in eukaryotes
Compared to prokaryotes, the mechanism for binding RNA to the promoter is ____ complicated in eukaryotes.
More
In eukaryotes, RNA polymerase II is recruited to the promoter and activated by a series of proteins called…
Transcription factors
True or false:
In eukaryotes, the intial mRNA molecule must undergo additional processing to become a mature molecule.
True
The initial molecule of mRNA synthesized is called the…
Primary transcript
List the three ways in which eukaryotes modify mRNA.
- A cap is added to the 5’ end
- A 3’ poly-A tail is added to the 3’ end
- Non-coding regions are removed
What is the purpose of the 5’ cap?
Protects the mRNA from degradation and helps to align it during translation
What is the purpose of the 3’ poly-A tail?
Protects the mRNA from degradation
Regions of mRNA that specify amino acids are called…
Exons
Regions of mRNA that do not specify amino acids and are not translated are called…
Introns
Introns are removed from the mRNA by the…
Spliceosome
During splicing, introns are ____ and exons are ____.
Removed ; spliced together
True or false:
Different genes have different numbers of introns and exons.
True