AP Bio Exam 4 Flashcards
Who created the model of DNA?
James Watson and Francis Crick
Chargaff’s Rule
The base composition of DNA varies from one species to another
For each species, the percentages of A and T bases are roughly equal, as are those of G and C bases.
Rosalind Franklin
Took an X-ray diffraction image of DNA
The pattern implied that the helix was made up of two stands, contrary to the three strand model.
The diameter was the same every time
Concluded that the sugar-phosphate backbones were on the outside of the DNA molecule. (The phosphate groups negatively facing the aqueous surroundings, and the relatively hydrophobic nitrogenous bases were hidden in the interior)
Watson and Crick
Built DNA model that proved the:
Double helix theory
Chargaff’s rules
antiparallel arrangement
Purine and pyrimidine arrangement
Hershey and Chase
Used radioactive isotope of sulfur to tag protein in one batch of T2 and radioactive isotope of phosphorus to tag DNA in a second batch
The phages infected E. coli and the phosphorus stayed. The protein does not enter the cells.
CONCLUSION: DNA must hold the molecule carrying the genetic information that makes the cells produce more viral DNA and proteins.
Why are nucleic acids unique?
Their ability to replicate themselves from monomers
Transformation
A change in genotype and phenotype due to the assimilation of external DNA by a cell
Evidence that DNA can transform bacteria
Frederick Griffith mixed cell remains of killed pathogenic bacteria with living nonpathogenic bacteria. Some living cells became pathogenic and all offspring of pathogenic bacteria were also pathogenic.
Some DNA of the dead pathogenic cells cause this heritable change
Evidence that Viral DNA can program cells
Bacteriophage (viruses that infect bacteria) “T2” programs E. Coli into T2 making machines. Hershey and chase found that the DNA entered the bacteria but not the protein
Virus
DNA in a protective coat, often a protein. Infects a cell and takes over the cell’s metabolic machinery
Three components of a nucleotide monomer
- Nitrogenous base
- Phosphate Group
- A pentose sugar (deoxyribose)
Four nucleotide bases
Adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
Chargaff’s rules
- DNA base composition varies between species
- For each species, the percentage of A and T (and C and G) bases are roughly equal
What are 5’ and 3’?
The carbon in the pentose that the phosphate group attaches to
Double helix
Presence of two strands
The sugar phosphate complex in nucleotides is the
“backbone” of the structure
What charge is DNA
Overall negative (because of the negative phosphate groups)
Antiparallel
Subunits of two sugar-phosphate backbones run in opposite directions
Purine
Two organic rings
Pyrimidine
One organic ring
Which bases are purines and which are pyrimidines?
Purine: Adenine and Guanine
Pyrimidines: Cytosine and Thymine
How many organic rings per nucleotide base pairs?
3
2 is too narrow and 4 is too wide in diameter of the helix
How many hydrogen bonds in each pairing?
A - T: Two
C - G: Three
Modern DNA sequencing techniques confirmed that
Nucleotide base pair ratios are exactly equal
Base principle of DNA replication
- Parental molecule is paired
- Pairs separate into two DNA strands
- Daughter strands pair complementary to both parental strands
Conservative Model of Replication
Two parental strands reassociate after acting as templates for new strands, restoring into a parental double helix
Semiconservative Model
True model*
The two strands of parental molecule separate and each functions as a template for synthesis of a new complementary strand
Dispersive Model
Each strand of both daughter molecules contains a mixture of old and newly synthesized DNA
When does DNA replication occur
S phase in Interphase
T/F, DNA replication is slow but accurate
F: it is quick and accurate
Origins of replication
Where replication begins; short stretches of DNA that have specific sequence of nucleotides
How is a parent DNA separated?
Protein locate the specific sequence of the origins of replication and form bubbles which expand as daughter strands are synthesized from both directions of the strand
Replication fork
A Y-shaped region where the parental strands of DNA are being unwound
Helicase
Enzymes that untwist the double helix at the replication forks, separating the two parental strands and making them available as template strands
Single-strand binding proteins
Bind to the unpaired DNA strands, keeping them from re-pairing (stabilizing)
Topoisomerase
Enzyme that helps relieve the strain of tighter twisting ahead of the replication fork. Done by breaking, swiveling and rejoining DNA strands
RNA
The initial nucleotide chain that is produced during DNA synthesis.
Primer
Initial RNA chain synthesized by a primase
Primase
Synthesizes an RNA primer at 5’ end of leading strand and at 5’ end of each Okazaki fragment of lagging strand
How many nucleotides does a primer cover at a time?
5-10
A new DNA strand will start from the ____ end of the RNA primer
3’
DNA polymerase
Catalyze the synthesis of new DNA by adding nucleotides to the 3’ end of a preexisting chain
Attach incoming nucleotides and takes everything but pyrophosphate (two phosphates)
How many DNA polymerases are discovered so far?
11, (but I and III are most important)
DNA polymerase III
Adds a DNA nucleotide to the RNA primer and then continues adding DNA nucleotides
DNA polymerase I
Removes RNA nucleotides of primer from 5’ end and replaces them with DNA nucleotides added to 3’ end of adjacent fragment
DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the free ____ end of a primer or growing DNA stand
3’
Leading strand
DNA pol III remains at the replication fork and continues to the end
Lagging strand
When DNA pol III must work along the other template strand in the direction away from the replication fork
Okazaki fragments
Series of fragments synthesized on the lagging strand
Okazaki fragments includes the primer until it is removed (by polymerase I) and replaced (by ligase) with DNA and brought together
DNA Ligase
Joins the backbones of all the Okazaki fragments into a continuous DNA strand
Are hydrogen bonds or covalent weaker
hydrogen
The overall negative charge of DNA means
It can only move in certain directions (and not across the membrane)
RNA vs. DNA
RNA:
- Single stranded
- Uracil - A
- Wide purpose: DNA replication, translation, and transcription
- Ribose
- ATP is used
DNA:
- Double stranded
- Thymine - A
- Genetic information and regulation
- Deoxyribose
- dATP is used
DNA replication quick facts
- 17-18 different enzymes
- Speedy and accurate
- More known how its done in bacteria than eukaryote
- Most of the process between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is similar
What happens when a DNA polymerase finds an error when comparing the nucleotide to the template?
It removes the nucleotide and then resumes synthesis
Mismatch pair
Evades the DNA polymerase proofread, and other enzymes remove and replace incorrect pair nucleotides resulted from replicatio errors
Describe how DNA damage after replication is fixed before they become mutation
They are corrected by about 170 DNA repair enzymes in humans
Nuclease
DNA cutting enzyme that cuts out damaged DNA
After a nuclease cuts out damaged DNA, what fills it back in?
DNA polymerase and DNA ligase
Nucleotide excision repair
Enzymes detect damaged DNA, nuclease cuts the segment out, DNA polymerase fills in the missing nucleotide, and DNA ligase seals the free end
Thymine dimers
After covalently linking thymine bases that are adjacent on a DNA strand, causing the DNA to bycle ajd interfere with replication
Mutation
A permanent change in the DNA
Why does linear DNA becomes shorter and shorter?
Usual replication cannot complete the 5’ ends of daughter DNA strands. Most prokaryotes have circular DNA though
Telomeres
Do not contain genes and located on the ends of eukaryotics chromosomal DNA molecules. Prevent shortening of linear DNA. Hold a crap ton of short nucleotide sequences
Two functions of telomeres
- Specific proteins in telomeric DNA prevent staggering ends of the daughter molecule from activating the cell’s system for monitoring DNA damage
- Acts as buffer zone that provides some protection against the organism’s genes shortening.
They don’t prevent erosion of genes at the ends, but postpone it
Shortening of telomeres contributes to
The aging of an organism overall and prevention of cancer
Telomerase
Catalyzes the lengthening of telomeres, restoring their original length.
In a bacterium, the DNA is “supercoiled” and found in a region of the cell called
the
nucleoid
Chromatin
A complex of DNA and protein, is found in the nucleus of eukaryotic
cells
Heterochromatin vs. Euchromatin
Heterochromatins dense nature makes it largely inaccessible
to the machinery responsible for transcribing genetic information
Heterochromatin
Irregular clumps of highly condensed chromatin
Euchromatin
Less compacted, more dispersed chromatin
Gene expression
The process by which DNA directs the synthesis of proteins
The one gene-one polypeptide rule is not entirely true. Why?
- Alternative splicing
- A few genes code for RNA molecules that have important functions in cells even though they are never translated into protein
Two stages of DNA expression
Transcription and Translation
Unique to RNA than DNA
Contains ribose instead of deoxyribose
Uracil instead of thymine
RNA molecule consists of a single strand
Transcription
The synthesis of RNA using information in the DNA
Molecules involved in transcription
messenger RNA
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
carries a genetic message from the DNA to the protein-synthesizing machinery of the cell.
Translation
The synthesis of a polypeptide using the information in the mRNA. mRNA nucleotide sequences are translated into amino acid sequences of a polypeptide
Molecules involved in Translation
Transfer RNA
Location of translation
Ribosomes (help orderly linking of amino acids into polypeptide chains)
Difference in bacterial and eukaryote transcription and translation
Bacteria do not have nuclei, so nuclear membranes do not separate bacterial DNA and mRNA from ribosomes and the other protein synthesizing equipment.
So what? Lack of compartmentalization allows for translation to occur even when transcription is happening
Transfer RNA
Translates a series of codons along an mRNA molecule
Transfer an amino acid from the cytoplasmic pool of amino acids to a growing polypeptide in a ribosome
Transcription occurs in the
nucleus
mRNA must be transported from the ______ to the _______ for ______
nucleus, cytoplasm, translation
Pre-mRNA
The initial version of mRNA that contains the primary transcript
Central Dogma
cells are governed by a cellular
chain of command
DNA -> RNA -> Protein