First Aid: Biochem/Microbio Flashcards
2 syndromes that can be caused by a Robertsonian translocation
Downs (trisomy 21) and Patau (trisomy 13)
Robertsonian translocation = when the long arms of 2 acrocentric chromosomes (ones w/ centromere at the ends) fuse and the short arms are lost => chromosomal imbalance
Angelman syndrome
(a) Etiology
(b) Clinical features
Angelman syndrome
(a) Gene on chrom 15: paternal allele is imprinted (methylated/turned off), maternal allele is mutated or deleted => disease
(b) ‘Happy puppet’- inappropriate laughter
seizures, ataxia, severe intellectual disability
Differentiate utility of karyotype vs. FISH to detect genetic abnormality
Karyotype looks at larger/chromosomal abnormalities, while FISH can look for presence/absence of genes at the molecular level (can look for smaller changes not seen by karyotype)
Karyotype can be done on blood, bone marrow tissue, placenta, amniotic fluid
Differentiate types of DNA mutations: missense, nonsense, frameshift
- missense = substitution that causes change in amino acid in one place of the protein
- nonsense = substitution that codes for a premature stop codon
- frameshift totally messes it up = addition or deletion that ruins the 3 divisibility => usually results in truncated/nonfunctional protein
Chromosomal d/o of chrom 7
Chrom 7 microdeletion = Williams syndrome: heart defect, ‘elfin’ faces, extreme friendliness w/ strangers
Cystic fibrosis
Explain how alternative splicing increases the number of proteins possible
The same exons can be spliced together in different ways (orders) to make a larger variation of proteins from the same genetic code
Differentiate the composition of euk vs. prok ribosomes
Eukaryotic ribosome = 40S + 60S subunits = 80S
Prokaryotic ribosome = 30S + 50S = 70S
Describe how scurvy causes signs/symptoms by interaction w/ collagen production
Vitamin C is needed by enzyme used in collagen hydroxylation (done in RER before exocytosed)
So vit C deficiency => deficiency in collagen
How does the base composition of DNA alter the melting point
CG has a triple bond while AT only has a double bond => the higher the CG content = higher the melting point of the DNA
Fxn of peroxisomes
Peroxisomes catabolize very long chain fatty acids, branched chain fatty acids, and amino acids
Briefly explain the molecular mechanism of fatty deposition in liver in alcoholism
The enzymatic reaction of ethanol metabolism increases the ratio of NADH / NAD+ in the liver which favors certain reactions including
- increase glycerol-3 phosphate which combines w/ fatty acids
- increased acetyl-coA which favors ketogenesis and lipolysis
Basically creates a lot of NADH that needs to get reduced which favors certain reactions cause fatty deposition
MC mutation causing Ehlers-Danlos
(a) Clinical features
Ehler-Danlos = CT d/o, MC from mutation in type V collagen
(a) Hyperextensible skin, tendency to bleed (bruise easily), hypermobile joints
What is the mRNA start codon?
(a) What does this code for in eukaryotes?
(b) In prokaryotes?
mRNA start codon = AUG
‘AUG’ments translation
(a) Codes for methionine in eukaryotes which is removed before protein synthesis is final
(b) codes for fMet in prokaryotes
Eukaryotic RNA polymerases, functions of
(a) I
(b) II
(c) III
(d) Differences from DNA polymerase
Eukaryotes have 3 (not just one) separate types of RNA, numbered in order that their product is used in protein synthesis
(a) RNA I forms rRNA
(b) RNA II forms mRNA
(c) RNA III forms tRNA
(d) RNA polymerases can initiate strand formation, but have no proofreading abilities
Distinguish the 4 types of collagen
Collagen I (90%) in bone, skin, tendon, dentin, fascia, cornea, late wound repair
Collagen II: cartilage, nucleus pulposis
Collagen III: reticulin
Collagen IV: basement membrane
-defective in Alports disease, targeted in Goodpastures
What site on tRNA is the amino acid bound to?
Amino acid is bound to the 3’ end of tRNA at the 5’ - CCA - 3’ acceptor site
Which type of blotting procedure would be best for
(a) Studying level of gene expression
(b) Confirming positive ELISA test for HIV
Blotting tests:
SNoW DRoP
Southern detects DNA
Northern detects RNA
Western detects proteins
Southwestern identifies DNA-binding proteins
(a) Study level expression by quantifying mRNA = Northern blot
(b) Confirm by detecting protein made by HIV virus, protein detected by Western blot
What part of the cell cycle is regulated by
(a) Tumor suppressor genes
(b) cyclin-CKD
Cell cycle
(a) Tsgs prevent cells in G0 (non-dividing stage) from entering G1 (growing phase that then leads to S-phase)
(c) Cyclin-cyclin dependent kinases: cyclin activates CKDs, then complex phosphorylates other proteins to coordinate cell cycle progression at all steps
Folate vs. cobalmin deficiency
(a) Anemia
(b) Neurologic symptoms
(c) Homocystine and MMA levels
(d) Which is more common?
B9 vs. B12 deficeincy
(a) Both cause megaloblastic anemia
(b) B12 deficiency has neurologic symptoms (subacute combined degeneration) while B9 deficiency doesn’t
(c) Folate (B9) deficiency => elevated homocyestine, normal MMA
B12 deficiency => elevated both homocysteine and MMA
(d) Folate deficiency more common b/c large B12 stores in liver
What is ergosterol?
(a) Drug target for what?
Ergosterol = sterol in the cell membranes of fungi, acts as cholesterol does in eukaryotes to keep the plasma membrane fluid
(a) Anti-fungals can act to inhibit the enzymes that make ergosterol => fungi can’t live
Describe the calculations for frequency of the following for a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
(a) homozygosity for allele p
(b) homozygosity for allele q
(c) heterozygosity
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1, p + q = 1
(a) p2
(b) q2
(c) 2pq
Chromosomal abnormality of what number leads to
(a) NF1
(b) NF2
(c) DiGeorge
(a) NF1 = chrom 17
(b) NF2 = chrom 22
(c) DiGeorge = 22q11 (‘catch 22”) on chrom 22
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
(a) Mode of inheritance
(b) Classic clinical features
(c) Age of onset
(d) Cause of death
DMD
(a) X-linked recessive
(b) Gower’s sign, calf pseudohypertrophy
(c) Before age 5
(d) Dilated cardiomyopathy
- b/c dystrophin is needed in both skeletal and cardiac muscle to anchor intra and extracellular matrix
Retinol
(a) Fxn
(b) Clinical features of deficiency
(c) Contraindication to vit A derivative
Retinol = vit A
(a) antioxidant, visual pigments
(b) Night blindness, corneal degeneration, scaly skin, immunosuppression
(c) Pregnancy
- isotrentin can cause cleft palate and cardiac abnormalities if taken during pregnancy (teratogen)