Eukaryotic Transcription And Control Of Gene Expression Flashcards
What is gene expression
Process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional product
What processes does protein-coding gene functional products need
Transcription, mRNA processing, translation and post-translational modification
What processes does non-coding gene functional RNA need
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): translation Transfer RNA (tRNA): translation Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA): RNA processing MicroRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lnRNA): regulation of gene expression
What are the products of gene expression responsible for
Structure (cytoskeleton, membranes, cell wall)
Biochemical reactions (catabolism and anabolism)
Cellular and intercellular communication
Gene expression
Other things cells do
When can gene expression be controlled and how
Transcription- which genes are copied into mRNA measures by transcriptome analysis
Co-transcription/ mRNA processing- alternative splicing giving different forms of a protein
Post-transcription- mRNA stability and translation efficiency determines how much protein is made from each mRNA
Post-translational- covalent modifications, localization and degradation alter protein function or abundance
Inc-RNA- multiple stages
Why is controlling gene expression important
Development- all cells in multicellular organisms have the same DNA but look and function differently because different cell types make different genes. Can be altered when expression isnt properly controlled.
Cancer= loss of gene expression
Environment- gene expression changes in response to the environment and allows organisms to adapt to different enviro conditions
Biotech/ medicine- altering gene expression can be used to alter characteristics
Where can transcription occur in eukaryotic cells
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Mitochondria and chloroplasts
Why does transcription occur in mitochondria and chloroplasts
From endosymbiosis… mitochondria and chloroplasts came from engulfing bacteria
Why is the nucleolus dark
From the amount of transcription of rRNA occurring
What does RNA polymerase I produce and where is it located
Most rRNA in the nucleolus
What does RNA polymerase II produce and where is it located
mRNA, snoRNA, some snRNA, miRNA and lncRNA in the nucleoplasm
What does RNA polymerase III produce and where is it located
tRNA, 5s rRNA, some snRNA and other small nRNAs in nucleoplasm
What does RNA polymerase IV and V produce and where is it located (plants only)
Regulatory ncRNA in nucleoplasm
What are the RNA polymerases in mitochondria and chloroplasts and what RNAs do they make
Nuclear encoded polymerase (NEP) in mitochondria and chloroplasts make rRNA, tRNA and mRNA
Plastid encoded polymerase in chloroplasts make rRNA, tRNA and mRNA
What are the substrates required for RNA transription
Nucleotriphosphates (NTPs) ATP, GTP, CTP and UTP
Which DNA strand is complementary to the RNA transcript
Template strand
What end are new nucleotides added to
3’ end of RNA transcript
What are nucleotides joined together by
Phosphodiester bonds
Structure of RNA polymerase II
Multiple subunits (Rpb#)
Catalytic subunits Rpb1 and Rpb2 related to prokaryotic RNA pol catalytic subunits
Additional subunits required for stability and transcription through chromatin in eukaryotes
How does RNA polymerase II work
DNA enters cleft and is unwound
Clamp is closed when active
Wall bends the template into active site
NTPs enter the pore
Template is exposed to NTPs in the catalytic site. When correct NTP binds a new phosphodiester bond forms
Bridge changes conformation and pushes paired nucleotide from active site
DNA/RNA hybrid helix formed which is 8-9bp long from active site= stability
Rudder separates DNA and RNA and RNA transcript leaves the exit
How does proof reading from RNA polymerase II occur
A mismatch is detected due to tension in DNA/RNA hybrid helix= less stable
Pol II moves backwards until mismatch is in the pore
Nuclease activity cleaves/ cuts out mismatch and the mismatch and following RNA degrades
Transcription resumes
What is the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD)
C-terminal domain of Rpb1 subunit. Not structured and not catalytic. Heptapeptide repeat (multiple copies of same seven amino acid sequence)
What is the CTD heptapeptide sequence
Tyr-Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser
What is the function/ what happens to the polymerase II CTD
Reversibly phosphorylated during transcription
Ser 2 and Ser 5- kinase adds phosphate group, phosphatases remove phosphate group
Different phosphorylation patterns alter interactions with other proteins as CTD interacts with proteins. Addition of phosphates= protein interaction. Removal= no protein interaction