DNA Replication Flashcards
Central Dogma?
flow of genetic info goes from DNA to RNA to Protein
DNA to DNA (DNA synthesis)
DNA to RNA (Transcription)
RNA to Protein (Translation)
Transcribe= different form of the same language
Translate= different language
What are some exceptions to the central dogma?
- Reverse transcription (retroviruses)
- Non coding RNA
- RNA editing
- RNA replication to RNA (virus)
What makes up the structure of DNA?
Sugar
Nitrogenous base
Phosphate group
What is the structure of the sugar in DNA?
5 carbon pentose ring called ribose (RNA) or deoxyribose (DNA)
What carbon is the nitrogenous base attached to in the 5 carbon sugar of DNA?
1’ carbon via an N-glycosidic bond, same carbon as sugar-sugar bonds
What is difference at the 2’ carbon between DNA and RNA? Why is this significant?
DNA has H and RNA has OH
The absence of O makes DNA more stable, less reactive than RNA, so it is a better place to store genetic info
What does the 3’ carbon have attached in DNA/RNA?
OH
What does the 5’ carbon have attached in DNA/RNA?
1 to 3 phosphate groups
What are the two types of nitrogenous bases?
purines (two rings)- Adenine, Guanine
pyrimidines (one ring)- Cytosine, Uracil (RNA), Thymine
What is the difference between thymine and uracil?
thymine contains a methyl group on the double bonded C=C2
How can cytosines next to guanines on the same strand of DNA (CpG) be modified? What does this modification do?
enzymatic addition of a methyl group
- changes how proteins interact with DNA
- influences its structure indirectly
- plays a role in gene expression
Deamination?
spontaneous removal of an amine group (NH2) from a nucleotide, common type of DNA damage
Deamination of cytosine=?
Uracil, easily detected
Deamination of adenine=?
Hypoxanthine, easily detected
Deaminated methyl-cytosine=?
Thymine, not easily detected or repaired
Deaminated guanine =?
xanthine
Another name for nucleotide?
nucleoside triphosphate
Nucleotides are the subunits of ______.
nucleic acids
What causes the negative charge in a nucleotide? Why is the negative charge in DNA significant?
phosphate (PO4^3-)
- not soluble in lipids, stays in nucleus
- interacts with histones for compact storage
AMP?
ADP?
ATP?
where do they attach?
monophospate
diphosphate
triphosphate
joined to C5 hydroxyl of ribose or deoxyribose
What type of linkage is used to attach phosphate groups to the 5’ carbon?
ester linkage
How are the phosphates named that are attached to the sugar? Which phosphate is included in nucleic acids?
- alpha (closest), beta, gamma
- only alpha is included, hydrolysis of the other two provide energy for the process
What type of bond joins nucleotides together?
phosphodiester linkage connects the 5’ phosphate and the 3’ OH
What makes a DNA strand polar?
5’ PO4
3’ OH
DNA is synthesized from ___ to ____.
5’
3’
How are anti parallel strands of DNA primarily held together?
H bonds between nitrogenous bases
Which base pairs are held together tighter? (AT or GC). Why?
GC because they are held together by 3 H bonds whereas AT is held together by 2 H bonds
-purines always pair with pyrimidines
What is the backbone of DNA strands composed of?
sugar and phosphate
In an alpha helix, where do the bases lie in relation to the axis of symmetry?
perpendicular
What is the purpose of the alpha helix? How many bp/turn?
it compacts DNA
10 bp/turn
Where are the major and minor grooves located in an alpha helix? What is significant about them?
major- between turns
minor- between strands
-this is where proteins interact with DNA
What is significant about DNA having complimentary base pairs and antiparallel structure?
Allows both strands to be used as templates for DNA synthesis, which ensures that each daughter cell gets the same genetic information.
Allows DNA repair to occur, since the damaged strand can be repaired by using the complimentary sequence as a template.
What is chromatin?
DNA + proteins
What is the difference between Euchromatin and Heterochromatin?
Euchromatin- less condensed, transcriptionally active, on chromosome arms, unique sequences, many genes, throughout S phase, crossing over common
Hetero- inactive, more condensed, sometimes facultative, always constitutive, at centromeres, telomeres, repeated sequences, few genes, late S phase, crossing over uncommon
What is the size of the nucleus?
5-8 micrometers diameter
What happens during Mitosis to chromatin?
becomes very condensed, chromosomes become visible
Where is the site for Ribosome synthesis is the nucleus?
Nucleoli
How many base pairs are packed into the Nucleus?
3 billion in an organized way for replication and transcription, compaction ration of 10,000 to 1
What are histones?
small positively charged proteins
What is the nucleosome core composed of?
H2A, H2B, H3, H4
-2 of each to make an octamer
How does DNA pack around histones?
wraps twice around octamer to make a nucleosome bead
What is linker DNA?
about 50 base pairs of DNA that separate the nucleosomes
What is the role of H1?
bind linker DNA
How much do nucleosomes decreases the length of DNA by?
2/3