Biochemistry Flashcards
What is the charge of DNA?
negative
which histone binds ot the nucleosome to stabilise the chromatin fiber?
H1
What is the structure of heterochromatin? How does it appear on EM? Is it active transcriptionally?
HeteroChromatin = Highly Condensed
Darker on EM
Inactive transcriptionally
What is the structure of euchromatin? How does it appear on EM? is it active transcriptionally?
less condensed
lighter on EM
active
How do prokaryotes distinguish between old and new strands during DNA replication?
template strand cytosine and adenine are methylated
What does methylation of DNA at CpG islands do?
Represses transcription
CpG Methylation Makes DNA Mute
What does histone methylation do?
can repress or activate DNA transcription depending on methylation location
Histone Methylation Mostly Makes DNA Mute
What does histone acetylation do?
Relaxes DNA coiling to allow for transcription
Histone Acetylation makes DNA Active
which nucleotides are purines? What is a purine?
PURines have 2 rings
A, G
PURe As Gold
Which nucleotides are pyrimidines? What is the structure of a pyrimidine?
PYrimidine has 1 ring
C, U, T
CUT the PY
How many H bonds does a G-C form and an A-T form? What does this mean for the melting temperature of DNA?
G-C forms 3. A-T forms 2
Therefore more G-C = higher melting temp of DNA
How can cytosine form uracil?
Deamination of cytosine –> uracil
What AAs are necessary for purine synthesis?
GAG - Glycine, Aspartate, Glutamine
What is a nucleoSide and a nucleoTide?
NucleoSide = base + ribose Sugar
NucleoTide = base + ribose sugar + phosphaTe
Describe the de novo synthesis of purines
Start with a sugar and phosphate (PRPP) and add the base
Describe the de novo synthesis of pyrimidines
- Make a temporary base of orotic acid
- Add sugar + phosphate (PRPP)
- modify the base to what you want
What converts ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides?
ribonucleotide reductase
How does leflunomide work?
immunosuppressive that inhibits dihydrooratate dehydrogenase
Interterferes with nucleotide synthesis
How does mycophenolate and ribavirin work?
inhibit IMP dehydrogenase interfering with nucleotide synthesis
How does hydroxyurea work?
inhibits ribonucleotide reductase interfering with nucleotide synthesis
How does 6-MP work? What is its prodrug?
prodrug - azathioprine
inhibits de novo purine synthesis
How does 5-FU work?
Inhibits thymidylate synthase and stops nucleotide synthesis
How does methotrexate, trimethoprim, and pyrimethamine work??
Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase and interferes with nucleotide synthesis in humans, bacteria and protozoa respectively
How does adenosine deaminase deficiency lead to SCID?
Excess ATP and dATP imbalances nucleotide pool by inhibiting ribonucleotide reductase via feedback inhibition. This leads to more purines than pyrimidines. This prevents DNA synthesis and thus decreases lymphocyte count –> SCID
Since developing T and B cells are the most mitotically active, the immune system suffers the most.
How does Lesch-Nyhan syndrome lead to excess uric acid production and de novo purine synthesis?
Defective purine salvage due to absent HGPRT enzyme. This enzyme converts IMP and guanine to GMP. This leads to excess uric acid and de novo purine synthesis.
What are the symptoms of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Hyperuricemia
Gout
Pissed off
Retardation
dysTonia
HGPRT enzyme involved
How should Lesch-Nyhan syndrome be treated?
Allopurinal or febuxostat
How does the term ‘unambiguous’ describe the genetic code?
Each codon is specific to only 1 amino acid
How does the term ‘degenerate’ describe the genetic code?
Most amino acids coded by multiple codons