Definitions to know! Flashcards
Activator
a protein that stimulates the expression of a gene, typically by acting at a promoter to stimulate RNA polymerase
Allele
one of several forms of a gene inside the chromosome
Basal factor
transcription factor required by RNA polymerase II to form the initiation complex at all promoters
Basal transcription apparatus
the complex of transcription factors that assembles at the promoter before RNA polymerase is bound
cDNA
single-stranded DNA complementary to an RNA, synthesized by reverse transcription
Chaperones
proteins that bind to incompletely folded/assembled proteins to assist with folding
Chromatin
state of nuclear DNA associated with proteins during interphase
Chromatin remodeling
energy-dependent alteration of nucleosomes which occurs during activation of gene transcription
Chromosome
unit of the genome which carries genes
Co-activator
required for transcription but does not bind to DNA. allows DNA-binding factor to interact with the basal transcription factors
Codon
triplet of nucleotides which represents an amino acid
Core DNA
the 146 base pairs of DNA in a core particle
Core histone
one of the histones found in the core particle derived from the nucleosome (does not include H1)
Core particle
digestion product of the nucleosome that retains the histone octamer
Core promotor
region surrounding start point to initiate transcription allowing RNA polymerase I to bind
