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lvl 2 bio > gene expression > Flashcards

gene expression Flashcards

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1
Q

What is gene expression?

A

The process by which the information in a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, typically a protein.

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2
Q

What is transcription?

A

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA, specifically mRNA, by RNA polymerase.

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3
Q

What is translation?

A

The process of synthesizing a protein from mRNA by ribosomes, where tRNA brings amino acids based on the mRNA sequence.

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4
Q

What is RNA polymerase?

A

The enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

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5
Q

What is a promoter?

A

A specific DNA sequence where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription of a gene.

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6
Q

What is a terminator?

A

A sequence of nucleotides in DNA that signals the end of transcription.

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7
Q

What is an intron?

A

Non-coding segments of a gene that are removed during mRNA processing.

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8
Q

What is an exon?

A

Coding regions of a gene that remain in the mature mRNA and are expressed as part of the protein.

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9
Q

What is a ribosome?

A

A cellular structure that facilitates the translation of mRNA into a protein.

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10
Q

What is tRNA?

A

A type of RNA that transports specific amino acids to the ribosome during translation, matching its anticodon with the mRNA codon.

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11
Q

What is a codon?

A

A sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

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12
Q

What is an amino acid?

A

The building blocks of proteins, linked together by peptide bonds to form a polypeptide chain.

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13
Q

What is a polypeptide chain?

A

A chain of amino acids that folds into a functional protein.

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14
Q

What is splicing?

A

The process of removing introns and joining exons together in pre-mRNA to form mature mRNA.

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15
Q

What is a 5’ cap?

A

A modified guanine nucleotide added to the 5’ end of eukaryotic mRNA, important for stability and initiation of translation.

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16
Q

What is a poly-A tail?

A

A sequence of adenine nucleotides added to the 3’ end of eukaryotic mRNA that protects the mRNA from degradation.

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17
Q

What is a transcription factor?

A

A protein that regulates gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences and influencing RNA polymerase’s activity.

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18
Q

What is a frameshift mutation?

A

A genetic mutation caused by insertions or deletions of nucleotides that shift the reading frame of the codons.

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19
Q

What is a missense mutation?

A

A mutation that changes a single amino acid in a protein sequence, potentially affecting its function.

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20
Q

What is a nonsense mutation?

A

A mutation that introduces a premature stop codon, resulting in a truncated and usually nonfunctional protein.

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21
Q

What is a ribozyme?

A

An RNA molecule capable of catalyzing specific biochemical reactions, similar to a protein enzyme.

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22
Q

What is the redundant genetic code?

A

The property of the genetic code in which multiple codons can code for the same amino acid, providing a buffer against mutations.

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23
Q

What is transcriptional activation?

A

The process by which certain proteins (activators) enhance the transcription of a gene, increasing its expression levels.

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24
Q

What is transcriptional repression?

A

The process by which certain proteins (repressors) inhibit the transcription of a gene, decreasing its expression levels.

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25
Q

What is an operon?

A

A cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter, often found in prokaryotes, allowing coordinated expression of functionally related genes.

26
Q

What is an enhancer?

A

A regulatory DNA sequence that can increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene, often located far from the gene itself.

27
Q

What is a silencer?

A

A DNA sequence that can repress the transcription of a gene when bound by specific repressor proteins.

28
Q

What is alternative splicing?

A

A process during mRNA processing that allows for the production of multiple protein isoforms from a single gene by including or excluding certain exons.

29
Q

What is post-translational modification?

A

The chemical modification of a protein after translation, which can affect the protein’s function, activity, and stability.

30
Q

What are chaperone proteins?

A

Proteins that assist in the proper folding and assembly of polypeptides into functional proteins.

31
Q

What is gene regulation?

A

The mechanisms that control the expression of genes, ensuring that the appropriate genes are expressed at the right time and in the right amounts.

32
Q

What is epigenetics?

A

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, often influenced by environmental factors.

33
Q

What is a mutation?

A

A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that can affect genetic information, potentially leading to changes in gene expression or function.

34
Q

What is a transcription bubble?

A

The region of unwound DNA where transcription occurs, allowing RNA polymerase to access the DNA template.

35
Q

What is a signal transduction pathway?

A

A series of molecular events and reactions that occur when a signal, such as a hormone, binds to a receptor, ultimately leading to changes in gene expression.

36
Q

What is RNA processing?

A

The modifications made to pre-mRNA, including capping, polyadenylation, and splicing, that result in the formation of mature mRNA.

37
Q

What is genetic engineering?

A

The manipulation of an organism’s DNA using biotechnology, often to achieve desired traits or produce specific proteins.

38
Q

What is a reporter gene?

A

A gene that is attached to a regulatory sequence of another gene of interest to study the expression and regulation of that gene.

39
Q

What is a nuclear pore complex?

A

A large protein complex that spans the nuclear envelope and regulates the transport of molecules, including mRNA, between the nucleus and cytoplasm.

40
Q

What is mature mRNA?

A

The final form of mRNA after splicing and other modifications, ready for translation in the cytoplasm.

41
Q

What is histone acetylation?

A

The addition of an acetyl group to histone proteins, which can increase gene expression by loosening the chromatin structure, making DNA more accessible for transcription.

42
Q

What is histone methylation?

A

The addition of methyl groups to histone proteins, which can either activate or repress gene expression depending on the specific context and location.

43
Q

What is chromatin?

A

The complex of DNA and proteins (histones) that makes up chromosomes, existing in a condensed form during cell division and a more relaxed form during transcription.

44
Q

What is a transcription initiation complex?

A

A large protein complex that assembles at the promoter region of a gene, consisting of RNA polymerase and various transcription factors, to initiate transcription.

45
Q

What is the 3’ untranslated region (3’ UTR)?

A

The section of mRNA that follows the coding region and is not translated into protein, playing a role in regulation of gene expression and mRNA stability.

46
Q

What is the 5’ untranslated region (5’ UTR)?

A

The region of mRNA located upstream of the start codon that is not translated but can influence the efficiency of translation.

47
Q

What is microRNA (miRNA)?

A

A small non-coding RNA molecule that regulates gene expression by binding to complementary sequences on target mRNAs, often leading to mRNA degradation or inhibition of translation.

48
Q

What is small interfering RNA (siRNA)?

A

Short, double-stranded RNA molecules that play a role in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, leading to the silencing of specific genes.

49
Q

What is translational control?

A

The regulation of the translation of mRNA into protein, which can affect the amount of protein produced from a specific mRNA.

50
Q

What is a proteasome?

A

A cellular complex that degrades unneeded or damaged proteins by tagging them with ubiquitin, thus regulating protein levels in the cell.

51
Q

What is ubiquitination?

A

The process of adding ubiquitin molecules to a protein, marking it for degradation by the proteasome.

52
Q

What is a polyribosome?

A

A cluster of ribosomes that are translating the same mRNA strand simultaneously, allowing for efficient protein synthesis.

53
Q

What is a nucleotide?

A

The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

54
Q

What is a template strand?

A

The DNA strand that serves as a template for RNA synthesis during transcription.

55
Q

What is non-coding RNA (ncRNA)?

A

RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but have regulatory roles in gene expression and other cellular processes.

56
Q

What is the lac operon?

A

A well-studied example of gene regulation in prokaryotes, consisting of genes that code for enzymes needed for lactose metabolism, regulated by the presence of lactose and glucose.

57
Q

What is an alternative promoter?

A

Different starting points for transcription on the same gene that can lead to the production of different mRNA variants and protein isoforms.

58
Q

What is a chimeric gene?

A

A hybrid gene formed from two different genes or gene fragments, often created through genetic engineering techniques.

59
Q

What is gene therapy?

A

A medical intervention that involves altering the genes inside a person’s cells to treat or prevent disease, often by correcting defective genes or introducing new genes.

60
Q

What is a ribonucleoprotein complex?

A

A complex composed of RNA and proteins that plays roles in various cellular processes, including splicing, translation, and RNA degradation.

lvl 2 bio (3 decks)

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