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
Co-repressor
triggers repression of transcription by binding to a regulator protein
Enhancers
cis-acting DNA elements that increase the transcriptional output of target genes
Epigenetic changes
influence phenotype without altering genotype
Epitome
portion of an antigen recognized by the antigen receptor on lymphocytes
Euchromatin
comprises all the genome in the interphase nucleus except for heterochromatin
Exon
any segment of an interrupted gene
Genome instability
a state of many changes in the genome, can cause generation of cancer cells
Genome
made up of chromosomes and DNA organelles
Haplotype
combination of alleles on a chromosome
Histones
DNA-binding proteins that form the basic subunit of chromatin
Intron
segment of DNA that is transcribed but removed from within the transcript by splicing together sequences (exons) on either side of it
Locus
position on a chromosome at which the gene for a particular trait resides
Nucleosome
basic structural unit of chromatin, contains DNA and histone proteins
Promoter
directs transcription and is the starting point of RNA synthesis
Silencing
repression of gene expression
Single Nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
a variation in sequence between individuals caused
by a change in a single nucleotide. This is responsible for the most of the genetic variation between individuals.
Synteny
a relationship between chromosomal regions of different species where homologous genes occur in the same order
T(FII)D
transcription factor that binds to TATA sequence consisting of TBP (TATA binding protein) and the TAF subunits that bind to TBP
Transcription Factor
protein required for RNA polymerase to initiate transcription
Transcription Unit
distance between sites of initiation and termination by RNA polymerase
Transgene
a gene that is introduced into a cell or animal from an external source
