L7: Transcription Flashcards
Central Dogma of genetic information flow
- flow of genetic information in a cell is always from DNA to RNA to protein
- there are some exceptions
- retroviruses (HIV) make DNA from RNA
The entire DNA sequence required to encode a functional polypeptide or RNA
Gene
DNA sequence that looks like a gene but is not transcribed
Pseudogene
DNA sequences similar to normal genes but non-functional
Pseudogenes
Regarded as defunct relatives of functional genes
Pseudogenes
Pseudogenes
- DNA sequence that looks like a gene but is not transcribed
- DNA sequences similar to normal genes but non-functional
- regarded as defunct relatives of functional genes
Number of genes correlates with the level of _____ of organism
complexity
Organism: bacteria
genes: 2,000-6,000
Organism: yeast
genes: ~4,900
Organism: fruit fly
genes: ~14,000
Organism: mammals
genes: ~20,000
Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic genes
Prokaryotic: polycistronic
Eukaryotic: monocistronic
Polycristonic
- in prokaryotic genes
- one promoter direct the synthesis of a mRNA that can encode more than one proteins
- proteins encoded by a prokaryotic polycistronic gene are usually all involved in the same biochemical pathway
- allows for simple regulation of the whole pathway desired for fast growing bacterial cells
One promoter direct the synthesis of mRNA that can encode more than one proteins
Polycistronic
Monocristonic
- one promoter direct that synthesis of mRNA that encodes only one protein
- eukaryotes prefer to do things in more sophisticated ways to achieve more control of the process, so every gene could have its own expression profile
One promoter direct that synthesis of mRNA that encodes only one protein
Monocristonic
Gene is expressed in 2 major steps:
- Transcription: RNA synthesis
2. Translation: protein synthesis
All cellular RNAs are synthesized by the _____ process
transcription
Transcription
A DNA-dependent RNA polymerization reaction catalyzed by the RNA polymerase
A DNA-dependent RNA polymerization reaction catalyzed by the RNA polymerase
Transcription
Transcirption
DNA: 5’ TACGTA 3’
3’ ATGCAT 5’
(RNA polymerase)
RNA: 5’ UAGCUA 3’
Direction of Transcription
- RNA is always made in the 5’ –> 3’ direction
2. Transcription produces single strand RNA that has the identical sequence with one of the two DNA strands of the gene
RNA is always made in the _____’ –> _____’ direction
5’ –> 3’
Transcription produces single strand _____ that has the identical sequence with one of the two _____ strands of the gene
RNA
DNA
DNA sequence strand (non-template)
with the same sequence as the RNA product
DNA antisense strand (template strand)
with the sequence complementary to the RNA
Upstream
toward 5’ of a given surface
Toward 5’ of a given surface
Upstream
Downstream
toward 3’ of a given surface
Toward 3’ of a given surface
Downstream