All things Staudinger

Question 1

What is the effect of... 
1. methylation 
2. Histone acetylation 
3. phosphorylation 
on chromatin packaging?

Answer 1

1. methylation turns the genes off and demethylation turns the genes on
2. acetylation activates gene expression and deacetylation inactivates the expression (because the beads are wound tight)
3. phosphorylation will increase transcription and dephospho rylation will decrease transcription

Question 2

How are we clinically able to test for gene deletions of genes?

Answer 2

With a Comparative Genome Hybridization (CGH arrays)

you can probe the human genome from one person and use another as a “normal” reference

Question 3

What are long terminal repeats?

Answer 3

Identical sequences of DNA that are highly repetitive at the ends of the retrotransposons

They are formed by reverse transcription of retroviral RNA

Question 4

How can DNA topoisomerase be used in the clinical setting?

Answer 4

By targeting them as a means of cancer treatment;

topoisomerase inhibitors can

• block the cell cycle
• initiate strand breaks
• harms the integrity of the genome
• apoptosis and cell death