Integrity: Maintaining the Genome & Maintaining the Cell Flashcards
Broadly describe the structure of a chromosome in decreasing size
Chromosome -> wound up chromatin fibre -> nucleosome (DNA wrapped up around protein complex) -> DNA
What is chromatin?
This is the substance in a cell nucleus which is formed by DNA wound around protein cores.
When unravelled it resembles beads on a string
What is a nucleosome?
One unit of chromatin
Why is chromatin formed?
It allows DNA to occupy a smaller space
What is a nucleotide?
The basic building block of DNA
What are the three componants that make up a nucleotide?
What is the name of the sugar present in a nucleotide?
2-deoxyribose
The bases in nuceotide are either ____ or ____
Pyrymidines or Purines
How do you know if a base is either a pyrimidine or a purine?
Is cytosine a pyrimidine or a purine?
Pyrimidine
Is adenine a pyrimidine or a purine?
Purine
Is thymine a pyrimidine or a purine?
Pyrimidine
Is guanine a pyrimidine or a purine?
Purine
How are DNA strands bonded?
Hydrogen bonds between the bases
What bases pair with which bases?
Remember : GCAT
How do the three componants of a nucleotide come together to form DNA?
The back bones are made of the phosphate and sugar which are bonded by the bases
What is a nucleoside?
Just the sugar and base componant
How are nucleosides named?
Not going to bother remembering this. Just a refresher
On what carbon groups are the sugar linked by the phosphodiesters?
5,3
What is the advantage to linking the sugars by two different carbon groups?
It gives DNA direction, it wll always go from a 5 end to a 3 end. The 5 end has a free phosphate while the 3 end has an OH
What defines the DNA sequence?
The order of the bases
As well as protein what else is found in a nucleosome?
Histones - these bind the DNA to the protein
How many histones are in a nucleosome and what are the 4 names?
What is the advantage to the 4 unique base pairings?
Each strand can be used as a template to replicate it’s partner
How does DNA begin splitting for replication?
Origins of replication are areas where splitting can begin with the help in initiator proteins
Where does replication begin?
Replication fork begin at the origin of replication and branch out bi-directionally unzipping as they replicate
Most important enzyme in DNA replication?
DNA-polymerase
Which direction in DNA synthesised in?
A 5’ -> 3’ direction
DNA ploymerase adds new nucleotides to the 3’ end of the growing chain
How does the polarity of the two newly synthesised DNA strands at a replication fork differ?
Opposite polarity
What problem does the opposite polarity of the two new replicated strands creat?
DNA can’t replicate bidirectionally
How is the problem of directional synthesis overcome to ensure by-directional syntheses?
What are the lagging strands called?
Okazaki fragments
What is the enzyme that joins together okazaki fragments?
DNA ligase
DNA polymerase can only continue existing chains, how are new chains started?
What enzyme helps unwind the double helix?
DNA helicase
DNA polymerase is highly accurate
However if an error does occur a missmatch actually wont bind, so how does it stay? (the occasional mutation must occure for evolution)
If unrepaired it is cemented in in the next round of replication
How are errors usually spotted?
By proofreading
What is the occurence of errors with and without proofreading
1 in 10^7 bases without proofreading
In reality with proofreading more like 1 in 10^9 bases
How does DNA missmatch repair occure?
DNA repair proteins bind forming an “oxbow lake” and cutting off the error
5 Things that can damage DNA
- Synthesis missmatch
- UV light
- Radiation
- Chemicals
- Cellular metabolism
How does UV light specifically damage DNA
It created Thymne dimers