16: Gene Expression

Question 1

3’ untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated

Answer 1

3’ UTR

Question 2

a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5’ end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation

Answer 2

5’ cap

Question 3

5’ untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated

Answer 3

5’ UTR

Question 4

protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription

Answer 4

activator

Question 5

protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available

Answer 5

catabolite activator protein (CAP)

Question 6

transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it

Answer 6

cis-acting element

Question 7

enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA

Answer 7

Dicer

Question 8

epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule

Answer 8

DNA methylation

Question 9

segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene

Answer 9

enhancer

Question 10

heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence

Answer 10

epigenetic

Question 11

protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation

Answer 11

eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)

Question 12

processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene

Answer 12

gene expression

Question 13

molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation

Answer 13

guanine diphosphate (GDP)

Question 14

energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation

Answer 14

guanine triphosphate (GTP)

Question 15

epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group

Answer 15

histone acetylation

Question 16

operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment

Answer 16

inducible operon

Question 17

protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation

Answer 17

initiation complex

Question 18

operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose

Answer 18

lac operon

Question 19

second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein

Answer 19

large 60S ribosomal subunit

Question 20

small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them

Answer 20

microRNA (miRNA)

Question 21

oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells

Answer 21

myc

Question 22

protein that prevents transcription

Answer 22

negative regulator

Question 23

region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells

Answer 23

operator

Question 24

collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells

Answer 24

operon

Question 25

a series of adenine nucleotides that are attached to the 3' end of an mRNA to protect the end from degradation

Answer 25

poly-A tail

Question 26

protein that increases transcription

Answer 26

positive regulator

Question 27

control of gene expression after the RNA molecule has been created but before it is translated into protein

Answer 27

post-transcriptional

Question 28

control of gene expression after a protein has been created

Answer 28

post-translational

Question 29

organelle that degrades proteins

Answer 29

proteasome

Question 30

protein that binds to the operator of prokaryotic genes to prevent transcription

Answer 30

repressor

Question 31

protein complex that binds along with the miRNA to the RNA to degrade it

Answer 31

RISC

Question 32

how long an RNA molecule will remain intact in the cytoplasm

Answer 32

RNA stability

Question 33

protein that binds to the 3' or 5' UTR to increase or decrease the RNA stability

Answer 33

RNA-binding protein (RBP)

Question 34

ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein

Answer 34

small 40S ribosomal subunit

Question 35

transcription factor binding site found outside the promoter or on another chromosome that influences the transcription of a particular gene

Answer 35

trans-acting element

Question 36

protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene

Answer 36

transcription factor

Question 37

sequence of DNA to which a transcription factor binds

Answer 37

transcription factor binding site

Question 38

site at which transcription begins

Answer 38

transcriptional start site

Question 39

series of genes necessary to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells

Answer 39

trp operon

Question 40

amino acid that can be synthesized by prokaryotic cells when necessary

Answer 40

tryptophan

Question 41

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

Answer 41

untranslated region