Chromosomes Flashcards
Chromatin
-DNA, histones and other proteins = chromosome
- plays important role in DNA compaction, regulating replication, transcription, recombination and chromosome segregation
Nucleosome
- nucleosome core is joined by linker DNA (34 bp)
- 147 bp of DNA wrapped around octomer and linker DNA
Nucleosome histone core
- 8 histones
- two of: H2A, H2B, H3, H4
- nucleosome core DNA = 147 bp of DNA wrapped around histone octomer
Nucleosome function
- Facilitates the compaction of ~200 bp of DNA
- Facilitates the compaction of the 30 nm chromatin fiber
- Template for chromatin enzymes which facilitate post-translational modifications = PTM facilitate higher levels of compaction
Chromatosome
- consists of a nucleosome and a linker histone
- Histone protein H1 may bind to linker DNA = protect an additional 15 to 20 bp of DNA
- H1 bind at the DNA entering & exiting the nucleosome
30nm Looped domains
Attached to scaffold made of proteins:
- cohesins (multi-subunit megaprotein)
- CTCF (transcription binding protein)
- both commonly mutated in cancer
Histone tails
- Open for post-translation modification = changes chromosome structure
- Lysine and Arginine groups
Acetylation = less compact for transcription
Methylation = condensed
Heterochromatin
Eukaryotic chromatin remains tightly compacted during interphase and is not transcribed
Euchromatin
less condensed eukaryotic chromatin that is available for transcription
Cell Cylce
- Karyotyping = metaphase (most condensed)
- FISH = interphase (not as condensed for fluorescent probes to attach)
Sister chromatids
In metaphase = one duplicated chromosome
Homologous chromosomes
Pair of sister chromatids from each parent (maternal and paternal)
Telomere vs Centromere
Telomere:
- end of a chromosome composed of repeated DNA sequences and associated proteins
Centromere:
- constriction in metaphase chromosomes.
- composed of repeated sequences, where chromosome that attaches to the mitotic spindle
p arm vs q arm
p arm: petite arm
q arm: long arm
Satellite of chromosome
part of the end of a chromosome that is separated from the rest of the chromosome by a secondary constriction.