16: Gene Expression Flashcards
3’ untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated
3’ UTR
a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5’ end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation
5’ cap
5’ untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated
5’ UTR
protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription
activator
protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available
catabolite activator protein (CAP)
transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it
cis-acting element
enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA
Dicer
epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule
DNA methylation
segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene
enhancer
heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence
epigenetic
protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation
eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)
processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene
gene expression
molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation
guanine diphosphate (GDP)
energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation
guanine triphosphate (GTP)
epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group
histone acetylation
operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment
inducible operon
protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation
initiation complex
operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose
lac operon
second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein
large 60S ribosomal subunit
small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them
microRNA (miRNA)
oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells
myc
protein that prevents transcription
negative regulator
region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells
operator
collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells
operon
a series of adenine nucleotides that are attached to the 3’ end of an mRNA to protect the end from degradation
poly-A tail
protein that increases transcription
positive regulator
control of gene expression after the RNA molecule has been created but before it is translated into protein
post-transcriptional
control of gene expression after a protein has been created
post-translational
organelle that degrades proteins
proteasome
protein that binds to the operator of prokaryotic genes to prevent transcription
repressor
protein complex that binds along with the miRNA to the RNA to degrade it
RISC
how long an RNA molecule will remain intact in the cytoplasm
RNA stability
protein that binds to the 3’ or 5’ UTR to increase or decrease the RNA stability
RNA-binding protein (RBP)
ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein
small 40S ribosomal subunit
transcription factor binding site found outside the promoter or on another chromosome that influences the transcription of a particular gene
trans-acting element
protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene
transcription factor
sequence of DNA to which a transcription factor binds
transcription factor binding site
site at which transcription begins
transcriptional start site
series of genes necessary to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells
trp operon
amino acid that can be synthesized by prokaryotic cells when necessary
tryptophan
segment of the RNA molecule that is not translated into protein. These regions lie before (upstream or 5’) and after (downstream or 3’) the protein- coding region
untranslated region
