Cellular Control - M6 Flashcards
Point / substitution Mutation
One base is replaced with another.
Addition / insertion / frameshift
Mutation
An extra base is added to the DNA molecule.
Deletion / frameshift
A base is removed from the DNA molecule.
Mutation causes no effect
no effect on phenotype of organism because normally functioning proteins are still synthesized
Damaging effects of mutations
phenotype of organisms is affected in a negative way because proteins are no longer synthesized or proteins synthesized are non-functional. Can interfere with one or more essential processes
Beneficial mutations
very rarely a protein synthesised that results in a new and useful characteristic in phenotype.
Genes can be regulated in 4 different ways:
Transcriptional – genes can be turned on or off
Post-transcriptional – mRNA can be modified which regulates translation
Translational: turning translation on/off
Post-translational – proteins can be modified after synthesis
Chromatin remodelling
Histones + DNA = chromatin
Heterochromatin is tightly wound DNA – visible during cell division
RNA polymerase can’t access gene so transcription can’t occur
Euchromatin – loosely wound DNA – present during interphase – this is when transcription can take place as RNA polymerase can bind
Histone modification
Histones are +ve and DNA is -ve
Histones can be modified to increase or decrease the level of packing
Acetylation or phosphorylation reduces +ve charge on histones causing it to coil less tightly allowing transcription
Methylation makes histones more hydrophobic so they bind closer together
RNA editing
Bases can be added, deleted or substituted
This increases the range of proteins that can be produced from a single gene
Translational control
Degradation of mRNA - The more resistant the molecule, the longer it will last in the cytoplasm, so more protein can be synthesised
Inhibitory proteins – bind to mRNA to stop it from binding to a ribosome
Activation of initiation factors which aid the binding of mRNA to ribosomes
Protein kinases
Catalyse addition of phosphate groups to proteins to change the tertiary structure and function
This usually activates enzymes so regulate cell activity
cAMP activates lots of protein kinases
Modification of proteins
Addition of non-protein groups
Modifying amino acids and the formation of bonds
Folding/shortening of proteins
Modification by cAMP – e.g. the lac operon cAMP binds to the cAMP receptor proteins increasing the rate of transcription of the structural genes
Control sites:
do NOT code for polypeptides
Promoter Region (P) DNA sequence where RNA polymerase binds
Operator Region (O) where repressor protein binds to
Structural genes
e.g:
:code for proteins not involved in gene regulation
Structural Gene (Z)
Structural Gene (Y)
Structural Gene (A)
Make
B- galactosidase
Lactose permease
Lactose transacetylase
Operon
A group of genes controlled by the same regulatory mechanism at the same time
An operon is a length of DNA made up of structural genes and control sites
The control sites regulate the expression of the structural genes
β-galactosidase in Gene regulation in Escherichia coli
hydrolyses lactose to glucose and galactose
Lactose permease in Gene regulation in Escherichia coli
enables the bacterium to take up lactose
β-galactosidase, Lactose permease enzymes are only produced in presence of …
These enzymes are only produced by the bacterium in the presence of lactose, indicating that there is a regulatory mechanism at work – the lac operon!
Describe how Genes Z and Y are switched on in bacteria that are moved to a nutrient medium which contains Lactose
lactose binds to repressor protein ;
changes , shape / structure (of protein) ;
removes it from / stops it binding to , operator ;
RNA polymerase binds to promoter ;
idea that (so that Z and Y) are , transcribed / mRNA made
Transcriptional control involves
Chromatin remodelling
Histone modification
Post-transcriptional/pre-translational control involves
RNA processing
RNA editing
Translational control involves
Degradation of mRNA
Inhibitory proteins
Activation of initiation factors which aid the binding of mRNA to ribosomes
Protein kinases
Post- translational control involves
Modifications of proteins
A homeobox is a DNA sequence that codes for a
protein transcription factor
homeodomain
This means they help to form the basic pattern of the body
For example, they control the………… of the organism (which end will develop into the head and which end will develop into the tail)
They also control the………… of organisms such as insects and mammals into distinct body parts and they control the development of body parts such as wings and limbs, as well as what …………. are present in each section of the body
polarity
segmentation
organs
!! DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Homeobox and homeobox gene
homeobox = DNA sequence that codes for a protein transcription factor- homeodomain
WHEREAS
a homeobox gene is any gene that contains a homeobox sequence
Why are homeobox genes similar between animals, fungi and plants
they all code for amino acid sequences that will form transcription factors, the DNA binding regions of which must have the same shape
why are homeobox gene sequences highly conserved
-genes very important
-mutation would have big efects - alter body plan
-Many other genes effected
-Mutations that cause variation in homeobox sequences can lead to organisms that are not viable (not properly developed) so are not favored by natural selection. Strong negative selection pressure
Homeobox genes summary
Regulatory genes
code for homeodomain (part of a protein)
Control body development
Regulate mitosis and apoptosis
180 bp
Homeobox genes are genes whose activity switches a whole set of other genes on or off, affecting an organism’s body plan (overall design of an organism’s body).
They are found in clusters called hox clusters
Most animals have very similar homeobox genes.
Genes are highly conserved (have not evolved much)
Code for production of transcription factors. These can bind to certain sections of DNA and cause it to be transcribed.
Hox genes
a very important subset of homeobox genes
One group of Homeobox genes only present in animals
determine the identity of embryonic body regions along the anterior-posterior axis (i.e. the head-tail axis)
They are responsible for correct positioning of body parts.
In animals, they are found in gene clusters, mammals have 4 on different chromosomes.
The order in which they appear along the chromosome is the order in which their affects are expressed in the organisms.
Humans have 39 Hox genes.
Diploblastic animals have
Diploblastic animals have two primary tissue layers (jellyfish, corals, anemones)
Triploblastic animals have
Triploblastic animals have three primary tissue layers (arthropods and vertebrates)
Hox genes in the head control
Hox genes in the head control the development of mouthparts,
Hox genes in the thorax control
Hox genes in the thorax control the development of wings, limbs or ribs.
Individual vertebrae and structures develop from segments in the embryo called _______. They are directed by ____ ______ to develop in a particular way depending on their _______.
somites.
Hox genes.
position.