e1-4 Flashcards
Blue Word
Definition
Transcription
The process of copying DNA into RNA by RNA polymerase.
Translation
The process of converting mRNA into a protein at the ribosome.
RNA polymerase
An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template.
Ribosome
A molecular machine that synthesizes proteins from mRNA.
Topoisomerases
Enzymes that relieve supercoiling in DNA.
Nucleosome
A unit of DNA wrapped around histone proteins for packaging.
Histones
Proteins that DNA wraps around to form chromatin.
Chromatin
The complex of DNA and proteins that make up chromosomes.
Euchromatin
Loosely packed chromatin associated with active gene transcription.
Heterochromatin
Densely packed chromatin associated with gene repression.
Constitutive heterochromatin
Regions of heterochromatin that are always condensed in all cells.
Facultative heterochromatin
Regions that can switch between heterochromatin and euchromatin.
Promoters
DNA sequences where RNA polymerase binds to start transcription.
Coding Region
The part of a gene that contains the instructions to make a protein.
Protein coding gene
A gene that encodes a protein through transcription and translation.
Exons
The coding sequences of a gene that remain in mature mRNA.
Introns
Non-coding sequences in a gene that are removed during RNA processing.
5’ Untranslated Region
A region of mRNA upstream of the start codon that is not translated.
3’ Untranslated Region
A region of mRNA downstream of the stop codon that is not translated.
