Ch 16 The Molecular Basis of Inheritance Flashcards
Origin of Replication (ORI)
- site where the replication of a DNA molecule begins, consisting of a specific sequence of nucleotides
- proteins open up the strand forming a replication fork
Replication Fork (bubble)
- a Y-shaped region on a replicating DNA molecule where the parental strands are being unwound and new strands are being synthesized
Helicase
- an enzyme that untwists the double helix of DNA at the replication forks, separating the two strands and making them available as template strands
- unwinds parental double helix at replication forks
Single-strand binding proteins
- a protein that binds to the unpaired DNA strands during DNA replication, stabilizing them and holding them apart while they serve as templates for the synthesis of complementary strands of DNA
- binds to and stabilizes singled-stranded DNA until it is used as a template
Topoisomerase
- an enzyme that breaks, swivels, and rejoins DNA strands
- during DNA replications, helps to relieve strain in the double helix ahead of the replication fork
Primer
- a short polynucleotide with a free 3’ end, bound by complementary base pairing to the template strand and elongated with DNA nucleotides during DNA replication
- synthesized by primase
Primase
- an enzyme that joins RNA nucleotides to make a primer during DNA replication using the parental DNA strand as a template
- synthesizes an RNA primer at 5’ end of leading strand and at 5’ end of each Okazaki fragment of lagging strand
DNA Polymerase
- an enzyme that catalyzes the elongation of new DNA by the addition of nucleotides to the 3’ end of an existing chain
- proofread newly made DNA
Leading Strand
- the new complementary DNA strand synthesized continuously along the template strand toward the replication fork in the mandatory 5’ –> 3’ direction
Lagging Strand
- a discontinuously synthesized DNA strand the elongates by means of Okazaki fragments each synthesized in a 5’–> 3’ direction away from he replication fork
DNA Ligase
- a linking enzyme essential for DNA replication
- catalyzes the covalent bonding of the 3’ end of one DNA fragment (such as an Okazaki fragment) to the 5’ end of another DNA fragment (such as a growing DNA chain)
- joins Okazaki fragments of lagging strand
- on leading strand, joins 3’ end of DNA that replaces primer to rest of leading strand DNA
Mismatch Repair
- the cellular process that uses specific enzymes to remove and replace paired nucleotides
-repair enzymes correct errors in base pairing
Nucleotide Excision Repair
- a repair system that removes and then correctly replaces a damage segment of DNA using the undamaged strand as a guide
Nuclease
- an enzyme that cuts DNA or RNA, either removing one or a few bases or hydrolyzing the DNA or RNA completely into its component nucleotides
- cut out damaged pieces of DNA
- recruits DNA polymerase to correct DNA
Telomeres
- repeating noncoding nucleotides so end replication doesn’t cut out important nucleotides
- tandemly repetitive DNA at the end of a eukaryotic chromosome’s DNA molecule
- protect the organism’s genes from being eroded during successive rounds o f replication
- postpone the erosion of genes
Telomerase
- lengthens telomeres
Chromatin
- the complex of DNA and proteins that make up eukaryotic chromosomes when the cell is not dividing
- exists in its dispersed form, as a mass of very long, thin fibers that are not visible with a light microscope
Euchromatin
- the less condensed form of eukaryotic chromatin that is available for transcription
- able to be transcribed
Heterochromatin
- eukaryotic chromatin that remains highly compacted during interphase and is generally NOT transcribed
- inaccessible for transcription
In a comparison between asexually reproducing bacteria and sexually reproducing multicellular eukaryotes, uncorrected errors in replication are more likely to be transmitted to subsequent generations in bacteria than in multicellular eukaryotes. Which of the following provides the best evidence-based explanation for this difference?
Because they are asexual and single-celled, all uncorrected errors of replication in bacteria are transmitted to subsequent generations. Multicellular eukaryotes typically reproduce sexually, so uncorrected errors are transmitted only if they occur in germ cells that meiotically divide to produce gametes.
A biochemist isolates, purifies, and combines in a test tube a variety of molecules needed for DNA replication. When she adds some DNA to the mixture, replication occurs, but each DNA molecule consists of a normal strand paired with numerous segments of DNA a few hundred nucleotides long. What has she probably left out of the mixture?
DNA Ligase
DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the (BLANK) of the leading strand, and to the (BLANK) of the lagging strands (Okazaki fragments)
3’ end; 3’ end
The role of DNA polymerase in DNA replication is to…
attach free nucleotides to the new DNA strand
The unwinding of DNA at the replication fork causes twisting and strain ahead of the fork, which is relieved by an enzyme called…
topoisomerase
DNA replication begins at a site called the origin of replication, forming a bubble which is followed by a (BLANK) where parental stands are unwound by (BLANK).
replication fork; helicases
Proteins that are involved in packaging the eukaryotic chromosomes called (BLANK) are (BLANK).
nucleosomes; histones