Chapter 15 - Genes And Proteins Flashcards
What are genes composed of and how are they arranged?
They are composed of DNA and linearly arranged on chromosomes
Genes specify the sequence of what?
Amino acids
Transcription generates what type of RNA? What is it?
Messenger RNA, a mobile molecular copy of one or more genes
What is mRNA code made up of, what is mRNA’s chemical composition (how does it closely relate to DNA)
mRNA code is made up of A,U,C,G and is single stranded and has 1 more oxygen atom than DNA
Basically mRNA is a copy of what?
A gene
What does the ribosome translate?
The mRNA code which is in base pair language (A,U,G,C) into an amino acid sequence (protein language)
How many amino acids are there?
20 commonly occurring (used) ones
In the process of transcription it allows DNA itself to remain…
Intact, and protected
In transcription what molecule makes the complementary pairs? And what ratio?
RNA polymerase pairs one RNA nucleotide for one DNA nucleotide being copied
What is the ratio in translation of mRNA to an amino acid?
Every 3 mRNA’s correspond to one amino acid (the genetic code)
The genetic code is a triplet code, a three nucleotide sequence codes for what?
One amino acid
Can an amino acid be encoded by more than one nucleotide triplet?
Yes
Coded triplets are called?
Codons
What happens when there is an addition or deletion of one or two nucleotides in translation?
It can shift the reading and frame and result in an incorrect amino acid producing a nonfunctional protein
What does a degenerate code allow?
It allows a given amino acid to be encoded by more than just one nucleotide triplet
“This amino acid can be specified by multiple similar codons”
In what order is reading the code done in translation? How is knowing the base sequence then determining the amino acid done?
It starts with the first base letter in the left column and follows its row until it meets the column of the second base letter to find one of the 16 blocks, then using the third base letter on the right side and reading back to the specific amino acid
What does it mean that the genetic code is virtually universal?
All species use the same code
What do prokaryotes have in addition to their large chromosome?
Plasmid DNA
In prokaryotes the double helix partially unwinds exposing 2 single DNA strands in a region called what?
The transcription bubble
The strand that is read by RNA polymerase in prokaryotes is called what?
The template strand
The mRNA strand that is built in prokaryote transcription is complementary to what? The other strand that is made resembles what strand but has what difference?
The mRNA strand that is built is complementary to the template strands
The other strand is almost identical to the mRNA strand except that in mRNA all of the T nucleotides are replaced with U nucleotides
The mRNA strand being synthesized is always added where?
On the 3’ end by RNA polymerase
In prokaryotes the first nucleotide base pair ready by RNA polymerase and mRNA synthesized is called what?
The +1 site (initiation site)
In prokaryotes What are the preceding and proceeding nucleotides from the initiation site called? What does this mean?
Preceding are upstream nucleotides that do not produce mRNA but are important in finding the initiation site and are called (promoters)
-proceeding are downstream nucleotides and are the ones read and mRNA synthesized from
Multiple initiation sites cna start in the bacterial chromosome resulting in…
Many mRNAs being quickly synthesized
How many RNA polymerase molecules are used to transcribe prokaryotic genes?
Only one
Prokaryotic RNA polymerase has how many subunits? What are they called? What other subunit plays a role and collectively what are they called with that other subunit?
It has 4 subunits called the core enzyme which have specific roles in transcription. There is a fifth subunit which initiates transcription at the appropriate initiation site, all 5 are collectively called the holoenzyme
What is a prokaryotic promoter?
An upstream DNA sequence into which the transcription machinery binds and then initiates transcriptions (includes RNA polymerase itself)
What promoter sequences are consensus to various bacterial specious?
-10 that is TATAAT
AND AT
-35 TTGACA
What subunit recognizes the promoter consensus sequences?
The fifth subunit of RNA polymerase and binds to those sequences
What does the A-T rich -10 regions do?
Facilitate unwinding of the DNA templates
The transcription elongation phase begins with what?
The 5th subunit being released from from RNA polymerase, and the core enzyme proceeding along the DNA template
mRNA is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction at what rate?
40 nucleotides per second
When is the DNA unwound and wound in prokaryotic elongation?
DNA is unwound before the core enzyme and rewound behind it
RNA polymerase acts as a stable linker between what?
The DNA Template and the new RNA strand
Once a gene is transcribed in prokaryotic cells what needs to happen?
The RNA polymerase must be instructed to dissociate from the DNA template and liberate the newly formed mRNA
What are the 2 kinds of termination signals that exist in prokaryotic cells?
1 - Rho-dependent termination
2 - Rho-independent termination
When does the Rho-dependent termination occur? What happens?
It occurs when the rho protein which tracts along behind the growing mRNA chain, near the end of a gene string of G nucleotides on the DNA strand stalls transcription and releases the mRNA from the transcription bubble