Chapter 9 - Chromosomes Flashcards
Nucleoid
Structure in bacterial cells that contains the genome.
- Not Confined by a membrane
- DNA bound by proteins
In eukaryotes, the genetic information is confined to the
Nucleus
Chromatin
Mass of DNA and DNA-bound proteins that occupies a large portion of the nucleus
Chromosome
Maximally condensed chromatin visible at the metaphase stage of cell division.
Chromosome visible in the most condensed form during
________ stage of mitosis.
Metaphase
What allows DNA to transition from the loosely organized interphase chromatin state to the highly condensed metaphase state and vice versa?
DNA Scaffold/Matrix
How does DNA maintain metaphase structure even when depleted of 92% of histone protein?
Arrangement of condensed metaphase structure is due
primarily to the arrangement of the DNA fibers in space.
At _______, the protein framework moves to occupy a
larger portion of the nucleus and constitutes the nuclear matrix.
Interphase
Metaphase (mitotic) scaffold
Protein framework that maintains the highly condensed
form of the DNA (independent of the histone proteins).
DNA sequence that allows for attachment to the protein scaffold:
- No consensus sequence
- A-T rich
- Close to the Regulatory Region
Matrix attachment region (MAR)
In Interphase
DNA sequence that allows for attachment to the matrix
Scaffold attachment region (SAR) in Metaphase
In Metaphase
DNA sequence that allows for attachment to the scaffold
DNA Staining
Utilized to generate a “gene roadmap” independent of
size and shape.
G-banding (Giemsa)
A-T rich
R-banding (reverse)
G-C rich
C-banding
Centromere, telomeres, constitutive heterochromatin
G-C rich regions are commonly
Gene start sites
Each band represents
Each band represents ~ 10^7 bp and multiple gene
• p-arm: short arm of the chromosome
• q-arm: long arm of the chromosome
P-arm
short arm of the chromosome
Each band represents
Each band represents ~ 10^7 bp and multiple gene
P-arm
Short arm of the chromosome
Q-arm
Long arm of the chromosome
Euchromatin
- loosely packed chromatin regions
- diffuse staining for DNA in this state
- dispersed throughout the nucleus
- the state of the majority of a cell’s chromatin
- active areas of gene transcription
Heterochromatin
- highly condensed chromatin regions
- concentrated staining for DNA in this state
- confined to select region of the nucleus (chromocenter)
- less frequently transcribed