BIO3: Control of Gene Expression: Biotechnology Flashcards
polycistronic
Polycistronic mRNA can encode more than one polypeptide separately within the same RNA molecule (e.g. bacteria)
Describe monocistronic
Monocistronic mRNA (primarily in eukaryotes) contain the coding sequence only for one polypeptide
How do prokaryotes control gene expression?
Operons that result in multiple genes per mRNA (polycistronic mRNA) only exist in prokaryotes
operons
Operons are a group of genes controled by a single promoter (all or nothing expression)
How do eukaryotes control gene expression?
- Transcription regulation
- Changes in gene number
- Translation regulation
- Failure to control
- DNA and chromatin structural modifications
operator
Operators are regions of DNA which enables the regulation of genes on the operon
What type of proteins bind regulate transcriptional activity in prokaryotes?
Activator and repressor proteins (decrease rate of transcription)
Describe the lac operon
Lac operon plays a catabolic role where transcription of lac is induced by the presence of lac (the substrate) that the operon’s enzymes break down
Describe the trp operon
Trp operon play an anabolic role where transcription of trp is represssed by the presence of trp (the product) of the operon’s enzymes
What are the components of the Lac Operon?
- Promoter region (P region) - RNA pol binds to begin transcription
- Operator region (O region) - repressor binds to decrease transcription
- Structural genes - lac Z, lac Y, lac A
How is gene expression controlled in bacteria?
In prokaryotes, gene regulation occurs at the transcription level (since transcription and translation occur simultaneously); the stronger the affinity between RNA pol and the promoter, the higher the transcription rate
Where does regulation of gene expression occur in bacteria?
Repressor proteins bind to the operator region of DNA; activator proteins bind to the enhancer region of DNA
transcription factor (TF)
TFs are proteins that control the rate of transcription by activating/repressing the activity of RNA Pol and modulate the interaction of RNA Pol and the promoter
RNA processing
The addition of a 5’ cap and 3’ poly-A tail that increases the stability of RNA, making it last longer in the cytosol
How many times can RNA be translated?
mRNA can continuous be read to make proteins
RNA interference
RNA molecules reduce translation by degrading some specific mRNA molecules
What types of RNA are involved in RNA interference?
- miRNA
2. siRNA
miRNA
miRNA are single stranded RNA molecules that are complementary to the mRNA molecule, bind to it, and degrade it