2.1 Cellular Control Flashcards
Definition of locus
The specific place on a chromosome that a gene occupies
What is a gene?
A length of DNA; a sequence of nucleotide bases that codes for one or more polypeptides
Give examples of polypeptides that genes code for
- Structural proteins, e.g. Collagen, keratin
- Haemoglobin
- Immunoglobulins
- Cell surface receptors
- Antigens
- Actin and myosin in muscle cells
- Tubulin proteins in the cytoskeleton
- Channel proteins
- Electron carriers
- Enzymes
Name some characteristics of the genetic code
- It is a triplet code: a sequence of 3 nucleotide bases codes for an amino acid
- It is a degenerate code (all amino acids except methionine have more than 1 code)
- Some codes don’t correspond to an amino acid but indicate ‘stop’ (end of the polypeptide chain)
- It is widespread but not universal (generally the same base sequence will code for the same amino acid in most organisms)
Where are proteins assembled?
In the cytoplasm, at ribosomes
What are the 2 stages involved in protein synthesis?
Transcription
Translation
How does transcription occur?
- The enzyme helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between the bases in a region of DNA in the nucleus causing the 2 strands to separate
- RNA polymerase binds to a sequence called the promoter region
- RNA polymerase moves along the strand forming a complementary mRNA strand from free RNA nucleotides in the nucleus
- As the mRNA strand is produced the 2 strands of DNA start to recoil behind it
- When a terminator region is reached the DNA is no longer copied
- The mRNA is released from the DNA and passes out of the nucleus, through a pore in the nuclear envelope, to a ribosome
Which strand of DNA is mRNA made from?
The template strand, so that it has the same sequence as the coding strand
What are codons?
Triplets of nucleotide bases
Why is the sequence if amino acid in a protein critical?
- It forms the primary structure of a protein
- The primary structure determines the tertiary structure
- The tertiary structure is what allows a protein to function
- If the tertiary structure is altered, the protein can no longer function so effectively, if at all
What is the structure of tRNA?
- Lengths of RNA that fold into 3 hairpin shapes
- It has 3 exposed bases at 1 end where a particular amino acid can bind
- At the other end are 3 unpaired nucleotide bases, known as an anticodon. Each anticodon can bind temporarily with its complementary codon on a mRNA molecule
How does translation occur?
- The mRNA strand formed during transcription attaches at the start codon to a ribosome in the cytoplasm
- The tRNA molecules contain a sequence of 3 bases called an anticodon which binds to a complementary codon on the mRNA
- The tRNA has an amino acid attached to it
- As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, another tRNA attaches, carrying a corresponding amino acid
- The 2 amino acids join together with a peptide bond
- Another tRNA molecule attaches to the mRNA
- The first tRNA molecule is released (now free to collect another amino acid)
- This process continues until a stop codon is reached on the mRNA
- The polypeptide chain is then released
What is a mutation?
A change in the amount of, or arrangement of, the genetic material in a cell
What is chromosome mutation?
A change to the structure of a chromosome
E.g. Deletion, inversion or translocation
What are mutagens?
Substances that may cause mutations
What are DNA mutations?
Changes to genes due to changes in nucleotide base sequences
What are the 2 main classes of DNA mutations?
Point mutations
Insertion/deletion mutations
When do DNA mutations occur?
When DNA is replicating before nuclear division, by either mitosis or meiosis
What is point mutation?
One base pair replaces another
Also called substitutions
What are insertion/deletion mutations?
When one or more nucleotide pairs are inserted or deleted from a length of DNA
These cause a frameshift
What is a missense mutation?
A mutation in which a base pair has been replaced, causing a change to the polypeptide sequence
What is a nonsense mutation?
A mutation in which a base pair is replaced, causing the polypeptide to end early
What is a silent mutation?
A mutation in which a base pair has been replaced but it does not affect the polypeptide chain (the codon still codes for the same amino acid)
What is a frameshift?
An insertion/deletion mutation
What is an allele?
An alternative version of a gene
What are mutations with neutral effects?
- A mutation in which the base triplet still codes for the same amino acid
- Or a mutation that causes a different characteristic which gives no particular advantage or disadvantage to the organism
What is the lac operon?
A section of DNA within E. Coli’s DNA
In the lac operon what are the structural genes?
Z codes for the enzyme β-galactosidase
Y codes for the enzyme lactose permease
Each consists of a sequence of base pairs that can be transcribed into a length of mRNA
In the lac operon what is the operator region?
- A length of DNA next to the structural genes
- It can switch them on and off
- Shortened to ‘O’
In the lac operon what is the promoter region?
- A length of DNA to which the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to begin the transcription of the structural genes, Z and Y
- Shortened to P
What is the regulator gene?
- It is not part of the operon
- Shortened to I
- Produces a repressor protein
What are the enzymes β-galactosidase and lactose permease used for?
β-galactosidase = catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose to glucose and galactose
Lactose permease = transports lactose into the cell
What happens when lactose is absent from the medium surrounding the lac operon?
- A repressor protein is produced by the expression of the regulatory gene
- The repressor protein binds to the operator region, blocking part of the promoter region
- This prevents RNA polymerase from attaching to the promoter region
- So transcription cannot occur: β-galactosidase and lactose permease are not synthesised
What happens when lactose is present from the medium surrounding the lac operon?
- Lactose molecules bind to the repressor protein
- This causes the shape of the protein to change, preventing it from binding to the operator region
- This allows RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter region
- Transcription of mRNA can then occur for Z and Y
- β-galactosidase and lactose permease are synthesised
- The E. Coli can now take up lactose from the medium and convert it to glucose and galactose
What is an organism’s body plan?
The general structure or layout of an organism
What are homeobox genes?
- Genes that control the development of the body plan of an organism, including the polarity (head and tail ends) and positioning of the organs
- They are each a sequence of 180 base pairs (60 amino acids)
- They code for transcription factors
Which homeobox genes determine what?
- Embryo’s polarity (head/tail) = maternal effect genes
- Polarity of each segment = segmentation genes
- What each segment looks like, e.g. Abdomen, thorax, head = homeotic selector genes
What is the effect of a mutation in a homeobox gene?
- Can cause changes in the body plan
- Can change one body part to another
How are homeobox genes arranged?
- In clusters known as Hox clusters
- These usually contain 9-11 genes
How are homeobox genes activated?
In the same order as they are expressed along the body (from head to tail)
What is a morphogen?
A substance that governs the pattern of tissue development
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
When and where does apoptosis occur?
In multicellular organisms
After about 50 mitotic divisions
What is necrosis?
Cell death that occurs after trauma
What is the sequence of events that occur during apoptosis?
- Enzymes break down the cell cytoskeleton
- The cytoplasm becomes dense, with organelles tightly packed
- The cell surface membrane changes and small bits called blebs form
- Chromatin condenses and the nuclear envelope breaks. DNA breaks into fragments
- The cell breaks into vesicles that are taken up by phagocytosis. The cellular debris is disposed of and does not damage any other cells or tissues
- The whole process occurs very quickly
How is apoptosis controlled?
By a range of cell signals (some from inside the cell and some from outside)
These include:
- Cytokines made by cells of the immune system
- Hormones
- Growth factors
- Nitric oxide
How does nitric oxide induce apoptosis?
- By making the inner mitochondrial membrane more permeable to hydrogen ions and dissipating the proton gradient
- Proteins are released into the cytosol
- These proteins bind to apoptosis inhibitor proteins and allow the process to take place
What is the role of apoptosis?
- It removes ineffective or harmful T-lymphocytes
- During limb development,not causes fingers and toes to separate