Exam 2 - Chapter 7 Flashcards
Genome
Complete set of genetic information
- chromosome plus plasmids
mRNA
Messenger RNA
rRNA
Ribosomal RNA
tRNA
Transfer RNA
Replisomes
Assembly line of DNA replication
Leading Strands
Synthesized continuously in the 5’ to 3’ direction
Lagging Strands
Synthesized discontinuously in the 5’ to 3’ direction
DNA Gyrase
Enzyme that temporarily breaks the strands of DNA, relieving the tension caused by unwinding the two strands of the DNA helix
DNA Ligase
Enzyme that joins two DNA fragments together by forming a covalent bond between the sugar and phosphate residues of adjacent nucleotides
DNA Polymerases
Enzymes that synthesize DNA; they use one strand of DNA to make the other complementary strand. Nucleotides can only be added to the 3’ end of an existing fragment-therefore, synthesis always occurs in the 5’ to 3’ direction
Helicases
Enzymes that unwind the DNA helix at the replication fork
Origin of Replication
Distinct region of a DNA molecule at which replication is initiated
Primase
Enzyme that synthesizes small fragments of RNA to serve as primers for DNA synthesis
Primer
Fragment of nucleic acid to which DNA polymerase can add nucleotides (the enzyme can add nucleotides only to existing fragments)
Replisome
The complex of enzymes and other proteins that synthesize DNA
Okazaki Fragments
Nucleic acid fragment produced during discontinuous synthesis of the lagging strand of DNA
1st Step of DNA Replication
Helicases unzip the DNA helix at the replication forks, revealing two strands that will act as templates
2nd Step of DNA Replication
Synthesis happens continuously at the leading strand, nice and easy
3rd Step of DNA Replication
Synthesis happens discontinuously at the lagging strand, because it can’t add nucleotides to the 5’ end. So it basically has to redo itself with a new RNA primer every time, making okazaki fragments
4th Step of DNA Replication
DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3’ end of okazaki fragments, eventually running into the 5’ end. So it has to replace the RNA primers with deoxynucleotides (no oxygen)
5th Step of DNA Replication
DNA ligase fills the gaps between okazaki fragments with covalent bonds
(-) Strand
Strand of DNA that serves as the template for RNA synthesis; the resulting RNA molecule is complementary to this strand
(+) Strand
Strand of DNA complementary to the (-) strand that serves as the template for RNA synthesis; the nucleotide sequence of the RNA molecule is the same as this strand, except it has Uracil instead of Thymine
Promoter
Nucelotide sequence to which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription
RNA Polymerase
Synthesizes RNA in 5’ to 3’ direction
Sigma Factor
Component of RNA polymerase that recognizes the promoter regions. A cell can have different types of sigma factors that recognize different promoters, allowing the cell to transcribe specialized sets of genes as needed
Terminator
Nucleotide sequence at which RNA synthesis stops; the RNA polymerase falls off the DNA template and releases the newly synthesized RNA
1st Step of Transcription
RNA polymerase binds to the promoter with the use of the sigma factor, and denatures a short stretch of DNA
2nd Step of Transcription
RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA in the 5’ to 3’ direction, denaturing DNA furthermore and renaturing the used portions
3rd Step of Transcription
RNA polymerase encounters the terminator, falling off and allowing the new RNA to be released
Anticodon
Sequence of 3 nucleotides in a tRNA molecule that is complimentary to a particular codon in mRNA
Polyribosome (Polysome)
Multiple ribosomes attached to a single mRNA molecule
Reading Frame
Grouping of a stretch of nucleotides into sequential triplets that code for amino acids; an mRNA molecule has 3 potential reading frames, but only 1 is typically used in translation
Ribosome
Structure that facilitates the joining of amino acids during the process of translation; composed of protein and ribosomal RNA. The prokaryotic ribosome (70S) consists of a 30S and 50S subunit
Ribosome Binding Site
Sequence of nucleotides in mRNA to which a ribosome binds; the first time the codon for methionine (AUG) appears after that site, translation generally begins
rRNA
Type of RNA molecule present in ribosomes
Start Codon
Codon at which translation is initiated; it is typically the first AUG after a ribosome-binding site
Stop Codon
Codon that terminates translation, signaling the end of the protein; there are 3 stop codons
tRNA
Type of RNA molecule involved in interpreting the genetic code; each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid dictated by its anticodon