BIO230 Lecture 3 Flashcards
Define: positive regulation
Activator protein recruits RNA Pol to the promotor to activate transcription
Define: negative regulation
Competition between RNA Pol and repressor protein for promoter binding
Define: inducing ligand
A ligand which when bound to a repressor protein removes the repressor protein and initiates transcription
Define: inhibitory ligand
A ligand which when bound to repressor protein switches the gene off
What are the 2 ways in which prokaryotic genes are negatively regulated?
- Gene off when repressor protein is bound to the operator; addition of ligand removes the repressor protein and initiates transcription
- Gene off when repressor protein is bound to the operator (with ligand); removal of ligand removes the repressor protein and turns gene on.
What are the 2 ways in which prokaryotic genes are positively regulated?
- Activator protein bound to RNA Pol (gene is on); addition of ligand removes the activator protein and turns gene off.
- Activator protein bound to RNA Pol with ligand (gene is on); removal of ligand removes activator protein and turns gene off.
Example: a negatively regulated prokaryotic gene that is activated when a ligand binds.
LAC repressor
Example: a negatively regulated prokaryotic gene that is activated when a ligand is removed.
Trp repressor
Example: a positively regulated prokaryotic gene that is activated when a ligand binds.
Catabolite Activator Protein (CAP)
Where are gene regulatory elements typically found in prokaryotes?
close to the transcriptional start site of prokaryotic genes
Where are some places that regulatory elements can be found (not the usual case) in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
- far upstream of the gene
- downstream of the gene (only eukaryotes)
- within the gene (in introns -> only eukaryotes)
How do regulatory elements that are far from the transcriptional start site influence transcription?
DNA looping
DNA looping _______ protein-DNA interactions
stabilizes
Describe DNA looping.
A repressor or activator (regulatory element) can bind to 2 operators simultaneously. Once the element binds to one operator (transition state), it is very likely to bind to second operator (double bond is energetically favourable). Once bound, it is very stable and tight.
Give an example of a regulatory element that uses DNA looping.
Lac repressor (tetramer) that can bind to 2 operators simultaneously.
What are the names of the two operators involved during DNA looping?
O_m (main operator)
O_a (auxiliary operator)
Define: bacteriophage lambda
A VIRUS that infects bacterial cells.
What is bacteriophage lambda’s genome like?
- Double stranded DNA
- 50000 nucleotide pairs
- Encodes 50-60 proteins
____ and _____ regulatory mechanisms work together to regulate the lifestyle of bacteriophage lambda. How?
Positive; negative
repress each other’s synthesis.
What is the anatomy of bacteriophage lambda?
(Red) DNA surrounded by (green) protein shell - has a protein tail!
Describe the process in which bacteriophage lambda gets into the bacterial host cell.
- lambda virus attaches to host cell and injects its DNA
2. lambda DNA circularizes (proteins aid the process)
What are the stages that bacteriophage lambda can exist in bacteria?
- Favourable bacterial growth conditions
2. Host cell damanged