Advanced cell biology/Molecular biology and genomics Flashcards
Oocyte
Cell type
Consists of 22 autosomes and a X-sex chromosome
Spermatocyte
Cell type
Consists of 22 autosomes and a X or Y sex chromosome
Autosomes
Chromosomes
An autosome is one of the numbered chromosomes, as opposed to the sex chromosomes. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes
Meiosis
Meiosis is a type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes in gametes (the sex cells, or egg and sperm)
- Recombination happens during chromosome cross-over
Mitosis
Mitosis, a process of cell duplication, or reproduction, during which one cell gives rise to two genetically identical daughter cells.
Chromosome (roles)
- Transmits genetic information through meiosis/mitosis
- Control expression of genetic information
Chromosomal territories
Territories are specific and interfere with expression, where chromosomes with many active genes are located in the center.
This placement of chromosomes are fluid
TADS
Chromosomes
Topological associating domains, and are highly heterogeneous structures due to their formation of loop extrusion by a cohesion complex and CTCF.
contribute to the regulation of gene expression by restricting interactions of cis-regulatory sequences to their target genes. Compartment A/ active genes and compartment B/nonactive genes
Chromatin loops
Chromosomes
stretches of genomic sequence that lie on the same chromosome (configured in cis) are in closer physical proximity to each other than to intervening sequences.
associated with DNA replication, gene expression and higher order packaging.
Structural abnormalities
Chromosomes
Happens during recombination and can lead to:
Translocations, Inversions, Duplications, Deletions, Ring, Marker
Numerical abnormalities
Chromosomes
Happens during first and second division of meiosis and can lead to:
Polyploidies and Aneuplodies
pseudoautosomal region cross-over
Chromosomes
Recombination of pseudoautosomal region at SRY can lead to XX-Male or XY- female
Reciprocal translocation
Chromosomes
occur due to the exchange of chromosome material between two nonhomologous chromosomes. When the amount of genetic material is balanced, there is no phenotypic effect on the individual because of a balanced complement of genes.
- Breakpoint disturbs dominant gene and increases ininfertility
- Segregation can lead to balanced and unbalanced segregation
Robertsonian Translocation
Chromosomes
type of translocation caused by breaks at or near the centromeres of two acrocentric chromosomes. The reciprocal exchange of parts gives rise to one large metacentric chromosome and one extremely small chromosome that may be lost from the organism with little effect because it contains few genes.
- Segregation can lead to trisomy, monosomy, carrier and normal phenotype
- Chromosomes 13, 14, 15 and 21 are robertsonian chromosomes
Locus
Chromosomes
Unique location of a gene on a chromosome
Allele
Chromosomes
Alternative version of a gene
Monogenic
Genes
Mutation in one gene
Multifactoral
Genes
Mutations in several genes plus milieu, complex pattern of inheritance
- Higher risk if more than one member is affected
- increased severity equals greater recurrance
Locus heterogeneity
Genes
Mutations in different genes leads to same disease
Allelic heterogeneity
Genes
Mutation in same gene leads to same disease
Compound heterozygote
Genes
Two different allele mutations and no healthy allele, leads to an in between phenotype
X-inactivation
Chromosomes
process by which one of the copies of the X chromosome is inactivated in therian female mammals. The inactive X chromosome is silenced by being packaged into a transcriptionally inactive structure called heterochromatin
Negative selection
Reduced fitness
Positive selection
Increased fitness
Loss of function
Genes
Function of gene product is lost or reduced
Gain of function
Genes
Gene product gains new function or increased function
Haploinsufficiency
Genes
50% of gene product is not sufficient to maintain function
Missense mutations
Genes
Nucleotide mutation leads to change of amino acid
Non-sense mutation
Genes
Nucleotide substitution leading to premature stop-codon
Synonymous mutation
Genes
Nucleotide substitution with no amino acid change
polymorphisms
Genes
Mutation with a population frequency larger than
0,01.
False discovery rate
The False Discovery Rate (FDR) is a statistical concept used in hypothesis testing and multiple comparisons, less conservative approach than traditional methods described earlier.
FDR = FP / (FP + TP)
- Standard adjusted P-value in GWAS studies
FP = false positives, TP= True positives
Splice site mutations
Abnormal mRNA splicing caused by mutations in acceptor splice-site, donor splice-site or branch site
- May cause introns not spliced out or exon skipping, mutations in donor sequence (upstream exon skipping) and in acceptor sequence (downstream exon skipping)
Regulatory region mutations
mutations outside coding regions, may cause changes to promotor region, enhancers/repressors, splice-enhancers, non-coding RNA.
- may lead to changes in expression level of genes
trinucleotide repeats
Repeats of a codon
anticipation
(Genetics)
correlation between onset and length of trinucleotide repeats
Copy number variation
segment of DNA in which copy-number differences have been found by comparison of two or more genomes
Chiasmata
chromosomes
the point of contact, the physical link, between two (non-sister) chromatids belonging to homologous chromosomes
Non-allelic homologous recombination
Chromosomes
form of homologous recombination that occurs between two lengths of DNA that have high sequence similarity, but are not alleles.
- leads to duplication or deletion
Sanger sequencing
Method
Sanger sequencing is a targeted sequencing technique that uses oligonucleotide primers to seek out specific DNA regions.
- DNA Replication: The DNA fragment to be sequenced is replicated in a test tube using DNA polymerase, just like in regular DNA replication.
- Modified Nucleotides: Special dideoxy nucleotides (ddNTPs) are added to the reaction mix. These ddNTPs lack a 3’ hydroxyl group, which prevents further DNA strand elongation when they are incorporated into the growing DNA strand.
- DNA Fragment Termination: The DNA polymerase randomly incorporates regular nucleotides (dNTPs) and the ddNTPs into the growing DNA strand. When a ddNTP is added, it terminates the strand’s growth at a specific position.
- Separation by Size: The resulting DNA fragments of varying lengths are separated by size through gel electrophoresis or capillary electrophoresis.
- Readout: The separated fragments are detected, and their order is determined based on their size
Next generation sequencing
Method
- LibraryPreparation—The sequencing library is prepared by random fragmentation of the DNA or cDNA sample, followed
by 5′ and 3′ adapter ligation. Adapter-ligated fragments are then PCR amplified and gelpurified. - ClusterGeneration—Library is loaded into a flow cell where fragments are captured on a lawn of surface-bound oligoscomplementary to the library adapters. Each fragment is then amplified into distinct, clonal clusters through bridge amplification .
- Sequencing—detects single bases as they are incorporated into DNA template strands by DNA polymerase. As all four reversible terminator–bound dNTPs are present during each sequencing cycle, natural competition minimizes incorporation bias and greatly reduces raw error. After each nucleotide addition, there is a cleavage step facilitated by exonuclease to remove unincorporated nucleotides and terminators
- DataAnalysis—Duringdata analysis and alignment, the newly identified sequence reads are aligned to a reference
genome
Single cell sequencing
Method
- Single-Cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq): This technique analyzes the transcriptome of individual cells, revealing their gene expression profiles. It’s valuable for understanding cell types, differentiation, and gene regulation.
- Single-Cell DNA Sequencing: Focuses on the DNA content of single cells, helping to detect genetic mutations, variations, and genomic changes at the individual cell level.
- Single-Cell Proteomics: Characterizes the protein content of individual cells, providing insights into the proteomic landscape of cells. It’s often used to study protein expression and post-translational modifications.
- Single-Cell Epigenomics: This method examines epigenetic modifications within individual cells, revealing how gene expression is regulated through epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation and histone modifications.
These techniques enable researchers to explore the biology of individual cells, uncovering heterogeneity and insights that bulk analyses might miss.
Functional test-enzymatic activity
Method
Function of a gene product can be analysed in the lab.
- it is specific for a given gene – DNA technology is generic
RNA-analysis
Method
conversion of RNA, either total, enriched for mRNA, or depleted of rRNA, into cDNA. After fragmentation, adapter ligation, and index ligation, each cDNA fragment is subsequently sequenced or “read” using a high-throughput platform
Types of DNA-analysis
Method
DNA analysis methods encompass a range of techniques used to study and analyze DNA, which is the genetic material in living organisms.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
- Y-Chromosome.
- Mitochondrial DNA
etc.
Diagnosis methods of specific defined genomic variants
Method
- Presence/absence of restriction site
- Allele-specific PCR amplification (primer differentiation)
- Allelic discrimination (PCR)
- Sequencing
- Single base primer extension
- Oligonucleotide ligation assay
Allelic discrimination
Method
Allelic discrimination relies on the differences in DNA sequences between the two alleles being analyzed. These differences can involve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, or other genetic variations.
- two different SNP-specific probes, labeled with different reporters
Oligonucleotide ligation
Method
The oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) is a genotypic assay which has been used to identify point mutations in DNA for a variety of diseases.
- covalent joining of two adjacent oligonucleotides by a DNA ligase when they are hybridized to a cDNA target.
- This happens if there is a point mutation between the two oligonucleotides
Pharmacokinetics
Genetic variations affecting how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and activated and eliminated
Pharmacodynamics
genetic variations affecting how a target patient responds to a drug
PCR in identification
Method
- restriction enzymes
- PCR product
method is aplicable in essential genes to identify abnormalaties to identify diseases
PCR cloning
Method
PCR product is digested by restriction enzymes and transfered into a vector, with overhang or blunt ends
1. PCR
2. Digestion with restriction enzymes
3. ligase ligases product into plasmid vector
- Make multiple copies
- express proteins
- Transfect mamalian cells
qPCR
Method
Quantitative PCR (qPCR), also called real-time PCR or quantitative real-time PCR, is a PCR-based technique that couples amplification of a target DNA sequence with quantification of the concentration of that DNA species in the reaction.
- Uses flourescense to measure amount of amplicon product pr. cycle (SYBR green dobbelstranded DNA or Taqman probe cleaved when transcribed)
Cancer cells
Self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity in growth signals, evading apoptosis, unlimited replication potential, sustained antigonesis and metastesise
- 6-7 key mutations needed
Carcinoma
cancer
In external tissue and internal body surfaces
Sarcoma
cancer
In supporting tissue
Lymphoma
cancer
In lymphocytes
Leukemia
cancer
In bloodcells
Proto-oncogenes
Normal gene and it plays a role in regulating normal cell division
Oncogenes
mutated gene that has the potential to cause cancer
loss of heterozygosity
loss of one parental copy in a region is also called hemizygosity in that region. Originally, a heterozygous state is required and indicates the absence of a functional tumor suppressor gene copy in the region of interest.
Types of DNA damage
Chemical mutagens
thymidine dimers
Interstrand crosslinks
Base changes:
- base excision
- mismatch pair
- insertions
- deletions
Single strand breaks:
- ligase
- topoisomerase
Double strand breaks:
- Non homologous end joining (error prone)
- Microhomology-mediated break-induced replication (error prone)
- Homologous recombination (error free)
Heteroplasmy
mixture of different versions of DNA
Homoplasmy
Uniform collection of mtDNA
Mitochondria segregation
randomly dispersed, which can cause a random occurance of nonfunction of dysfunctional mitochondria
Transgenic mice
Advantages:
- quick
- dominant active mutants
- dominant negative inhibition of protein families
- over- or regulatable expression possible
Disadvantages:
- unphysiological expression
- expression level determines effect
- endogenous wild type protein still present
Pluripotent cells
stem cell that has the potential to differentiate into any of the three germ layers
Conditional mutagenesis
technique used to study the function of genes in a specific tissue or at a specific time. It involves the insertion of loxP sites into the genome of an organism, which can be used to control the expression of a gene.
It allows the DNA modification to be targeted to a specific cell type or be triggered by a specific external stimulus.
off target precision CRISPR
Off-target effects in CRISPR refer to unintended genetic modifications that can arise through the use of engineered nuclease technologies such as CRISPR-Cas91. These off-target effects consist of unintended point mutations, deletions, insertions, inversions, and translocations
Mitochondria in aging
mtDNA dontent decreases with age
Mitochondrial inhibition
reduces proliferation of activated T-cells, which can lead to:
- Increased infections
- Senescent cells (age-related diseases)
- Transforming cells (cancer)
Genome organisation
- Chromatin loops
- TADS
-A/B compartments - Histones
- Chromosome territories
Aneuploidies
the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell, for example a human cell having 45 or 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46
Histone methylation/acetylation
- Histone acetylation tend to define openess of chromatin
- Histone methylation correlate with activation of genomic regions, depending on methylation and happens in the CG pslindorme (only cystien can be methylated on 5th position)
Genomic inprinting
Some genes are only expressed by paternal and maternal genes
- Mutations in these genes lead to diseases
Epigenome
Complete description of all epigenetic marks/changes/features that regulate expression of genes within genome
Uniparantal dysomies
Meiosis I/II non-disjunction trisomy, can be rescued and lead to two paternal or maternal chromosomes inn child
DNA methyltransferase
Conserves methylation during cell devision by copying methylation from leading strand
Lipid membrane
Lipid membranes form spontanously as a membrane bilayer (semi-permeable)
- Hydrophobic tail (fatty acid)
- Glycerol
- Variable portion of head group (PE, PC, PS, PI)
Lipid membrane structure is fluid, except structures kept in place by the cytoskeleton
sphingolipids
Sphingolipids are a class of lipids that contain a backbone of sphingoid bases. These compounds play important roles in signal transduction and cell recognition.
Sterols (cholesterol)
Forms micro domains. It helps to maintain the fluidity and stability of the membrane by preventing the phospholipids from packing too closely together 2. The amount of cholesterol in the cell membrane varies depending on the type of cell
Membrane proteins
There is 7 different structures, most are associated by an alpha helix in both layers, some however only associates with one bilayer with an anchor and one by a beta-barrel structure.
- Integral membrane proteins are a permanent part of a cell membrane and can either penetrate the membrane (transmembrane) or associate with one or the other side of a membrane (integral monotopic).
- Peripheral membrane proteins are transiently associated with the cell membrane
Transmembrane Channels
Mainly transport Ions, exception being aquaporins.
- Facilitate diffusion down a concentration gradient
- gated by being directed into various membranes(trafficking) or by regulation (gating)
- Selectivity through transcient binding through the pore
Transporters
Facilitates transport through the membrane passive or active:
Uniporter (passive) allows flow down the concentration gradient
Symporter, antiporter, ATP-powered pumps (active) allows flow agianst the concentration gradient.
- The symporter and antiporter is secundary active and the transport is facilitated by a co-transport of a molecule down the gradient
- ATP-powered pumps (P-class, V-class, F-class, ABC-class) are primary active
The eukaryotic cell cycle
process by which eukaryotic cells divide and reproduce. It consists of four distinct phases: G1 phase, S phase (synthesis), G2 phase (collectively known as interphase) and M phase (mitosis and cytokinesis).
- During interphase, the cell grows, accumulates nutrients needed for mitosis, and replicates its DNA and some of its organelles.
- During the mitotic phase, the replicated chromosomes, organelles, and cytoplasm separate into two new daughter cells.
S phase
DNA synthesis
- Cyclin E and CDK2
G1 phase
cell decides wether it is dividing or not at start/restriction point
- Cyclin D and cdk4 (cyclin D is present in all phases, however it is decreased in the end of M-phase to inhibit direct transition to G1)