Epigenetics Flashcards
A change in phenotype that does not result from a change in the sequence of the gene.
- caused by a mechanism other than mutation
- Change is heritable
Epigenetics
Signal received—> chromatin changed without changing DNA sequence
*Not all genes are expressed at any given time
Epigenators
The interplay between DNA methylation and histone acetylation, and RNAi to completely repress expression of genes
-CpG island is unmethylated (allows for txn machinery to bind) —–>CpG island methylated (physically blocks txn machinery from binding)
Gene silencing
Is reversible, but more permanent than not
-Sometimes methylation recruits histone deacytlases to modify histone tails
Gene Silencing
- Done in response to signals not spontaneous
- Big insulator proteins stop processes
- Packing pattern is heritable
Histone Tail Modification
- Transfer acetyl groups to histone tails, masking their (+) charges
- Relaxes histone and allows txn machinery to get in
Histone acetyl transferases (HATS)
- Recruited by DNA methylation
- Reverses histone acetyl transferase activity
Histone Deactylases
Regulatory RNAs control target mRNA degradation Done by: microRNA (miRNA) short-interfering RNA (siRNA) -Used: *during development *immune system of cell against viruses
RNA interference (RNAi)
Protein that picks up shRNA because it recognizes it
RISC (RNA interference silencing complex)
(In nucleus) miRNA—>transcribed—>miRNA transcript—>processed—(outside of nucleus)–>short hairpin RNA (shRNA)—>processed—>RISC picks up shRNA—>binds to target mRNA—–>RISC cuts mRNA—->mRNA degraded by exonuclease activity
Process of RNA interference