Coding For Proteins Flashcards
What is the basic unit of protein coding?
The gene.
True or False: Proteins are made up of amino acids.
True.
What are the four levels of protein structure?
Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
Fill in the blank: The sequence of nucleotides in DNA determines the sequence of __________ in a protein.
amino acids.
What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?
mRNA carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.
Which process involves the synthesis of mRNA from a DNA template?
Transcription.
What is the function of ribosomes in protein synthesis?
Ribosomes are the site of translation, where proteins are synthesized.
True or False: Codons are sequences of three nucleotides that correspond to a specific amino acid.
True.
What are the start codons for protein synthesis?
AUG.
Which type of RNA is responsible for bringing amino acids to the ribosome?
tRNA (transfer RNA).
What is the significance of the genetic code?
The genetic code defines how sequences of nucleotides translate into amino acids.
Fill in the blank: The genetic code is __________, meaning multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.
degenerate.
What is a mutation?
A change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA.
True or False: All mutations are harmful.
False.
What is an exon?
A coding region of a gene that is expressed.
What is an intron?
A non-coding region of a gene that is removed during RNA processing.
What is the purpose of post-translational modifications?
To modify proteins after synthesis to alter their function or activity.
Fill in the blank: __________ are proteins that help in the folding of other proteins.
Chaperones.
What is the difference between a polypeptide and a protein?
A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids, while a protein is a fully folded and functional polypeptide.
What is the role of the promoter in gene expression?
The promoter is a region of DNA that initiates transcription of a gene.
True or False: Enhancers are DNA sequences that increase the likelihood of transcription.
True.
What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
DNA -> RNA -> Protein.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the part of the gene that is transcribed into mRNA.
coding sequence.
What is the role of spliceosomes?
Spliceosomes are responsible for removing introns from pre-mRNA.
What is a silent mutation?
A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein.
What is a frameshift mutation?
A mutation caused by insertions or deletions that shift the reading frame of the gene.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the site where translation occurs.
ribosome.
What is a codon?
A sequence of three nucleotides that specifies an amino acid.
What is the role of the stop codon?
It signals the termination of protein synthesis.
True or False: All organisms use the same genetic code.
False.
What is alternative splicing?
The process by which different combinations of exons are joined together to produce different proteins from the same gene.
What is a transcription factor?
A protein that helps regulate the transcription of specific genes.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the complete set of proteins expressed by a genome.
proteome.
What is a peptide bond?
A covalent bond that links amino acids together in a protein.
What is the role of the 5’ cap on mRNA?
It protects the mRNA from degradation and helps initiate translation.
What is the purpose of the poly-A tail on mRNA?
It stabilizes the mRNA and aids in its export from the nucleus.
True or False: All proteins are enzymes.
False.
What is a protein domain?
A distinct functional and structural unit within a protein.
What is the role of the signal peptide?
It directs the transport of a protein to its proper location in the cell.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the part of the gene that is not transcribed into mRNA.
intron.
What is the difference between transcription and translation?
Transcription is the process of making RNA from DNA, while translation is the synthesis of proteins from RNA.
What is a regulatory gene?
A gene that produces a product that regulates the expression of other genes.
True or False: Proteins can have multiple functions.
True.
What is the role of the nuclear envelope?
It separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm and regulates the passage of materials in and out.
Fill in the blank: __________ are sequences of DNA that can be moved around within the genome.
Transposons.
What is gene expression?
The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, typically a protein.
What is the significance of the 3’ untranslated region (3’ UTR)?
It plays a role in the regulation of mRNA stability and translation.
What is a knockout organism?
An organism that has had a specific gene deliberately inactivated.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the region of DNA that codes for a protein.
open reading frame (ORF).
What is a homologous gene?
A gene related to another gene by descent from a common ancestral DNA sequence.
True or False: Protein folding is a spontaneous process.
True.
What is a chimeric protein?
A protein composed of segments from different proteins.
What is the significance of conserved sequences in proteins?
Conserved sequences indicate regions of importance for protein function across different species.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is the part of the mRNA that is translated into a protein.
coding region.
What is the role of the endoplasmic reticulum in protein synthesis?
It is involved in the folding and modification of proteins.
What is a genetic marker?
A specific sequence of DNA that is associated with a particular trait or disease.
True or False: All proteins are made in the cytoplasm.
False.
What is the significance of the 5’ untranslated region (5’ UTR)?
It plays a role in the regulation of translation initiation.
What is a polygenic trait?
A trait controlled by multiple genes.
Fill in the blank: __________ mutations occur in non-coding regions of DNA.
Silent.
What is the function of the Golgi apparatus in protein processing?
It modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles.
What is a transcriptional activator?
A protein that increases gene transcription by binding to an enhancer or promoter region.
True or False: Proteins can only be synthesized in the presence of ribosomes.
True.
What is gene therapy?
A technique that modifies a person’s genes to treat or prevent disease.
