BIOL 226 FINAL Flashcards
What does snRNA do?
Involved in the splicing process when mRNA is formed
What does rRNA do?
combines with proteins to form ribosomes
Once in the cytoplasm, the mRNA binds to a ribosome, which is a large complex comprised of several ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and many proteins. The ribosome is the site of protein assembly. The bases of the nucleotides in the mRNA are read three at a time by the ribosome. Each of these base triplets is called a codon and specifies one amino acid.
What does tRNA do?
Brings amino acids to sites of mRNA during protein synthesis
a cloverleaf‑shaped molecule containing an anticodon complementary to an mRNA codon and is attached to an amino acid specific to the anticodon. The interaction between the codons in the mRNA and the complementary tRNA anticodons dictates the order that amino acids are delivered to the ribosome. Enzymes within the ribosome join the amino acids from the tRNAs to form the peptide chain. When at least three amino acids are linked, the chain is considered a polypeptide.
What does siRNA do?
eliminates the expression of an undesirable gene
What does mRNA do?
Coding - carries genetic information to ribosomes for protein synthesis
a linear sequence of ribonucleotides transcribed from DNA that carries instructions for protein production
What does miRNA do?
inhibits the translation of mRNA into proteins
What is common about the promoter in both pro and eukaryotes?
In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the promoter is located in the 5′ direction, upstream from the transcription start site.
What does the promoter often contain in eukaryotic transcription?
In eukaryotes, the promoter often contains a TATA box, which is where the TATA‑binding protein binds. The binding of the TATA‑binding protein is the first step in eukaryotic transcription. When the TATA‑binding protein binds, it is part of a larger transcription factor complex, which then attracts other general transcription factors and the RNA polymerase, together forming the preinitiation complex.
What does the promoter contain in prokaryotic transcription?
In prokaryotes, the promoter contains a −35 and −10 region upstream of the transcription start site, which is recognized by the RNA polymerase holoenzyme. The RNA polymerase holoenzyme is composed of five units that make up the core enzyme plus a sigma factor subunit. After the RNA polymerase holoenzyme binds to both the −35 and −10 regions, transcription is initiated at the start site.
What occurs in the first step of transcription - initiation?
initiation, during which an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to the DNA template at a specialized sequence called a promoter.
Before RNA polymerase can bind to the promoter, transcription factors must first bind and prime the promoter region.
Once bound, RNA polymerase unwinds local regions of the DNA double helix which enables the genetic code to be copied.
What occurs in the second step of transcription - elongation?
Once the DNA is unwound and the nucleotides are exposed, the elongation step begins. RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand and adds nucleotides to the 3’ end of the growing chain.
What occurs in the last step of transcription - termination?
RNA polymerase continues to transcribe the DNA until it encounters a sequence that signals the end of the gene.
RNA polymerase detaches from the DNA and the string of RNA bases is released as a single‑stranded transcript.
The newly formed RNA transcript, also known as messenger RNA, is ready to be translated into a protein.
Which strand is the template strand in transcription?
3’
What is transcription?
The process by which DNA is copied to RNA
What is translation?
The process of using RNA to produce proteins
What are the 8 brief steps of eukaryotic transcription?
RNA polymerase II binds to DNA promoter element
DNA is unzipped by RNA polymerase
Ribonucleotides align with complementary DNA nucleotides
RNA polymerase links triphosphate ribonucleotides together
Guanine cap added to 5’ end of mRNA
RNA polymerase released from DNA
Splicing and polyadenylation (polyA tail) events modify mRNA
Processed mRNA leaves the nucleus
What is a transcription factor?
A protein that binds to a specific DNA sequence to regulate transcription
Can bind either upstream or downstream,
Can activate - recruits RNA polymerase
Can inhibit - blocks RNA polymerase from binding
What is a polyA tail?
Sequence of adenine nucleotides added onto the end of premRNA, added onto 3’ end
Facilitates export of mature mRNA from nucleus and protects from degradation
Stabilizes the trailing end of mRNA
What is an intron?
noncoding segment of DNA that lies between coding regions, is removed from premRNA
What is an exon?
Coding portion of DNA that is present in mature mRNA
exons are eventually expressed by being translated into AA sequences
What is alternative splicing and why is it important in eukaryotic organisms?
Alternative splicing is done by the spliceosome where it splices in slightly different places
Produces related but distinct proteins called isoforms
It increases the variety of proteins that can be produced without altering the genome size
What is the purpose of the 5’ cap?
Assists mRNA in binding to the small ribosomal subunit
Assists in RNA splicing
What happens in the three phases of translation?
During initiation, the small subunit of the ribosome and the initiator tRNA bind to the mRNA. This complex, along with other proteins known as initiation factors, scans the beginning of the mRNA for the first start codon, AUG. The 5′ cap of the mRNA is important for ribosome binding and helps to ensure that ribosomes load before the first start codon. Once the start codon is recognized, the large ribosomal subunit binds to the small ribosomal subunit and translation can& begin.
During elongation, additional amino acids are added to the growing polypeptide chain. For each codon after the start codon, a tRNA complementary to the codon binds to the ribosome and mRNA. This tRNA carries with it the amino acid specified by the codon. The ribosome catalyzes the addition of the amino acid from the new tRNA to the amino acid carried by the initiator tRNA, forming a peptide bond. Using energy, the ribosome and elongation factors remove the initiator tRNA, move the ribosome forward, and accept a new tRNA complementary to the next codon. This process continues to repeat until the ribosome reaches a stop codon.
During termination, the ribosome reaches a stop codon and dissociates from the mRNA. Unlike other codons, the stop codon is not recognized by a tRNA, but instead is recognized by a protein, known as a release factor. Release factor proteins are shaped like a tRNA. The release factor protein and other factors catalyze the release of the polypeptide chain and the dissociation of the ribosome from the mRNA.
What are the sizes for each subunit of ribosomes in pro and eukaryotes?
prokaryotes - 70s, small subunit 30s, large subunit 50s
Eukaryotes - 80s, small subunit 40s, large subunit 60s
Which type of organism has multiple ribosome binding sites?
Prokaryotes can have multiple binding sites because a single mRNA can encode many proteins, but in eukaryotes mRNA only encodes a single gene and therefore only has a single binding site.
Which DNA bases are purines and which are pyrimidines?
Purines - A, G (larger)
Pyrimidines - C, T, U (smaller)
What is the difference between a transition and transverse missense mutation?
A transition mutation causes a purine - purine or pyrimidine - pyrimidine substitution
a transversion mutation causes a purine - pyrimidine substitution
What are two differences between DSBR and SDSA? (Pathway after homologous recombination)
In DSBR the non crossover product contains DNA from the homologous chromosome and only forms after a Holliday junction resolution
In SDSA the non crossover product does not contain DNA from the homologous chromosome, and there are only non crossover products
What is a mutagen and what can they do?
A mutagen is a chemical or physical force that can increase the mutation rate above the spontaneous mutation rate
Replace a base pair in the DNA strand
Alter a base pair leading to mismatch
Damage a base pair so that it cannot pair with anything else
How does homologous recombination repair double stranded breaks in DNA (simplified/)
It uses complementary sequence on a homologous chromosome as a template to extend DNA past breakpoint
Which repair pathways detect DNA damage during transcription?
nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)
base excision repair (BER)
nucleotide excision repair (NER)
direct repair (kinda)
These DONT (during replication instead)
translesion synthesis
mismatch repair
homologous recombination
How is cDNA generated from a eukaryotic mRNA?
Reverse transcriptase generates a single-stranded cDNA, and then DNA polymerase synthesizes the complementary strand.
What are three ways scientists can confirm that a cell has incorporated recombinant DNA?
Screen for the expression of a reporter gene (GFP)
Grow cells in the presence of an antibiotic
PCR if needed
To inactivate a gene by RNAi what do you need?
the sequence of the target gene
What is an operon?
A gene cluster or group of genes that act like a single gene for regulation and transcription
What is the function of the repressor in the lac operon?
A repressor is a type of protein that inactivates the expression of the lac operon genes by binding to the DNA of the lac operon - protein transcribed in the regulatory gene
What happens in the lac operon when lactose is scarce in the environment?
The repressor is activated in the absence of lactose
The repressor binds to the operator (normally would bind to lactose)
RNA polymerase cant move
Lactose enzyme genes are not transcribed
The cell can no longer digest lactose
What is the central dogma of biochemistry?
Transcription of DNA to RNA,
Translation of RNA to Amino Acid chains
The folding of amino acids to proteins
What are four differences between DNA and RNA?
Nucleotides used - U vs T
Sugar used - Ribose vs Deoxyribose
Function - various vs data storage
State - single vs double stranded
What are the purines?
Adenine and Guanine
What are the pyrimidines?
Cytosine, Thymine and Uracil
Four basic steps in the overview of transcription
DNA is unwound
RNA is synthesized 5-3 following DNA sequence by RNA polymerase
DNA rewinds
mRNA is released
What is RNA in reference to the coding and template strand?
RNA is complementary to the template strand, because it is synthesized off the complementary strand
RNA is identical to the coding strand
Can either DNA strand be the template strand?
Yes
What are other names for the template and coding strand?
Template - antisense
Coding - sense
Where is RNA synthesized, where is it transported to?
Synthesized in the nucleus, transported to the cytoplasm
Is mRNA synthesis and degradation fast?
mRNA is rapidly synthesized and rapidly degraded, know bc of phage infection experiments with ecoli
RNA is translated from?
The template strand
3 stages of transcription in prokaryotes?
Initiation
elongation
termination
What are the functions of the 5 subunits in PROKARYOTIC RNA polymerase? (only need to rlly know two)
Sigma - initiation of transcription, recognizes promoter
Omega - chaperone activity, ensures correct folding
Alpha - assembly of core
Beta - ribonucleotide triphosphate binding site
Beta prime - DNA template binding region
What are promoters? What is the site where transcription starts? What are the two non coding regions of mRNA transcript?
Short orderly sequences of cis elements that are recognized by sigma RNA polymerase subunit
Only present on template strand to ensure the proper sense mRNA is made
+1 site is where transcription starts, between promoter and ATG start codon
Untranslated regions - UTR, 5UTR before AUG and 3UTR after stop codon
Generally, what are cis and trans elements?
Cis elements - same side - DNA shid
Trans elements - other side - Proteins n shid
Why might promoter regions have different sequences?
Polymerase binding is not perfect so variation does not affect function
Different genes are translated at different rates/ times so different promoter regions can call for that
What are the two kinds of termination in RNA transcription?
Factor dependent termination - requires a trans element (p-dependent) (rho)
Intrinsic termination - requires cis elements in the end of transcript (p-independent)
Explain factor dependent termination
RNA polymerase pauses at termination site
Rho binds RUT sequence
Rho destabilizes the transcriptional complex
mRNA transcript dissociates from RNA polymerase
Explain intrinsic termination
Poly A pauses RNA polymerase
GC rich inverted repeat forms a hairpin structure in mRNA
Causes dissociation and termination
What is the function of the sigma subunit in RNA polymerase?
Helps with initiation
5 differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription
Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic
- One RNA polymerase vs. three RNA polymerases.
- Sigma factors vs. multi-subunit general transcription factors.
- Co-transcriptional translation vs. spatially separated transcription and translation.
- Simple transcript vs. processed transcript (cap, introns/exons, poly A tail).
- DNA (almost naked) vs. chromatin.
Four special challenges in eukaryotic transcription
Harder to locate the promoter because genome is bigger and genes are more spaced out
Transcription and translation do not happen at the same time due to eukaryotes having a nucleus
Eukaryotic DNA is wrapped up in histone complexes that need to be removed for transcription to occur
Transcription is more complex - polymerase has more subunits, transcription factors are required to recruit the polymerase
How many RNA polymerases are there in eukaryotes?
5, 2 are plant exclusive
What is a homozygote?
Each copy of the gene has the same allele
what does the 5’ cap do?
Protects mRNA from nucleases
Recognition for signal translation`
**is a guanine
Added during transcription to prevent degradation
What are R loops formed from?
Introns that need to be spliced
What is the branch point adenine for?
Alternative splicing
What are the two main mechanisms for splicing in eukaryotes?
Self splicing - primary transcript with enzymatic activity - no protein involvement, no energy required
RNA Protein complex mediated splicing - enzymes and snRNAs needed to recognize and mediate intron excision (spliceosome) - requires ATP
What is a cofactor?
Compound or chemical used to catalyze a reaction - not a protein
4 true things about splicing
Only present in eukaryotes
Can be done with or without proteins
is a huge source of disease due to mistakes
occurs during transcription
What are isoforms?
Related but distinct proteins produced from alternative splicing
Are all RNA translated?
NO - some are introns that get cut out
What type of RNA is used in translation?
tRNA
What do the three RNA polymerases do in translation?
Pol1 - mRNA coding
Pol2 - decoding all RNA but 5sRNA
Pol3 - decoding tRNA and 5sRNA
What are the two ends of a tRNA
The anticodon pairs with the mRNA
The amino acid is covalently attached to the 3’ end
What attaches an amino acid to its tRNA?
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ATS)
Where does codon specificity reside?
The anticodon, not the attached amino acid
How does rRNA fold?
by intramolecular base pairing
Structure is key for function
Explain the Shine-Dalgarno sequence
Process of initiation of translation in prokaryotes
sequence binds to complementary sequence in rRNA
-docks the small ribosomal subunit
3 steps of initiation of translation in prokaryotes
Small subunit 30s binds shine-Dalgarno sequence
tRNA binds to Psite
Large subunit 50s binds to 30s