Biochemistry-Molecular Flashcards
How does DNA exist?
In a condensed, chromatin form in order to fit in the nucleus. Negatively charged DNA loops twice around positively carged histone octamers to form nucleosomes
What AAs are histones rich in?
lysine and arginine
What makes up the histone octamers?
(H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) x2
and H1 links them
DNA and histone synthesis occurs during what phase?
S
What is heterochromatin?
condensed, appears darker on EM
Transcriptionally inactive, sterically inaccessible
What is euchromatin?
less condensed, appears lighter
transcriptionally active, and sterically accessible
Describe DNA methylation
Template strand cytosine and adenine are methylated in DNA replication, which allows mismatch repair enzymes to distinguish between old and new strand in prokaryotes.
DNA methylation at CpG islands repressed transcription
Describe Histone methylation
Usuallu reveribly represses DNA trnscription, but can activate it in some cases (acetylation usually relaxes DNA coiling to allow for transcription)
Describe the nucleotides
PURines (A,G)- 2 rings PUR As Gold
PYrimidines (C,T,U)- 1 ring CUT the PY (pie)
More about nucleotides
Thymine has a methyl (found in DNA)
Deamination of cytosine makes uracil (found in RNA)
G-C bonds (3H) stronger than A-T bonds (2H). Higher G-C content= higher melting temp of DNA
What AAs are needed for purine synthesis?
Glycine
Aspartate
Glutamine
What is the difference between a nucleoside and a nucleotide?
nucleoside= base + deoxyribose (sugar)
nucleotide= based + deoxyribose + phosphate; linked by 3’-5’ phosphodiester bonds
What are the initial steps of pyrimidine base production?
1) Gutamate + CO2 (add 2 ATP and via carbamoyl phosphate syntthetase II) produces carbamoyl phosphate
2) carbamoyl phosphate + aspartate = orotic acid via dihydrooratate dehydrogenase
What drug blocks the conversion of carbamoyl phosphate + aspartate = orotic acid via dihydrooratate dehydrogenase?
leflunomide
What are the next steps in pyrimidine synthesis?
3) orotic acid + PRPP (from Ribose 5-P using PRPP synthetase) = UMP and then UDP
4) UDP converted to either CTP or dUDP via ribonucleotide reductase
What drug inhibits the conversion of UDP to dUDP via ribonucleotide reductase?
Hydroxyurea
What happens to dUDP in pyrimidine synthesis?
5) converted to dUMP
6) dUMP is converted to dTMP via thmidylate synthase by oxidizing N5N10- methylene THF to DHF (DHF is then made back into THF via dihydrofolate reductase)
What drug blocks thymidylate synthase?
5-FU
What drug blocks dihydrofolate reductase?
Methotrexate, Trimethoprim, pyrimethamine
How are purines made?
1) convert PRPP to IMP (6-MP, azathioprine (prodrug of 6-MP) blocks)
2) IMP to AMP or GMP via IMP dehydrogenase
What drug blocks conversion of IMP to GMP via IMP dehydrogenase?
mycophenolate, ribavirin
What other pathway besides de novo pyrimidine synthesis is carbamoyl phosphate involved in?
urea cycle
Purine salvage pathway- note that you can convert Adenosine to inosine using adenosine deaminase
What drugs inhibit the conversion of hypoxathine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid?
allopurinol and Febuxostat
What does adenosine deaminase deficiency cause?
Excess ATP and dATP imbalances nucleotide pools via feedback inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase, which prevents DNA synthesis and thus, decreases lymphocyte counts (one of the major causes of AR SCID)
What is Lesch-Nyhan syndrome?
Defective purine salvage due to absent HGPT which converts hypoxanthine to IMP and guanine to GMP resulting in excess uric acid production and de novo purine synthesis
What is the MOA of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome?
X-linked recessive
How does Lesch-Nyhan syndrome present?
intellectual disability
self-mutilation
aggression
hyperuricemia
gout
dystonia
How is Lesch-Nyhan syndrome tx?
allopurinol or febuxostat
Genetic code features
Unambiguus- each codon specifies only 1 AA
Degenerate/Redundant- most AAs are coded by multiple codons (exceptions: methionine and tryptophan are encoded y only 1 codon, AUG and UGG, respectively)
Commaless, nonoverlapping- read from a fixed starting pt as a continuous sequence of bases
Universal- genetic code is conserved throughout evolution (except in mitochondria)
Describe the origin of replication of DNA
particular consensus sequence of base pairs in genome where DNA replication begins. May be single (prokaryotes) or multiple (eukaryotes)
What is the replication fork in DNA replication?
Y-shaped region along dNA where the leading and lagging strands are made