Lecture 10: Cell & Molecular Biology of the Nervous System IV

Question 1

Of what are DNA and RNA polymers composed?

Answer 1

chains of nucleotides

Question 2

What are the substrates used from nucleotide synthesis?

Answer 2

• nitrogenous base
• sugar group
• phosphate group(s)

Question 3

What are the 2 main activities that occur in the nucleus?

Answer 3

• transcription

- RNA processing

Question 4

What are common features of a eukaryotic gene?

Answer 4

• proximal control elements
• promotor factor
• introns and exons
• poly-A site

Question 5

4 main types of RNA

Answer 5

• mRNA: codes for proteins
• rRNA: forms the basic structure of the ribosome and catalyzes protein synthesis
• tRNA: central to protein synthesis as adapters between mRNA and amino acids
• microRNA: regulate gene expression typically by blocking translation of selective mRNAs

Question 6

epigenetics

Answer 6

• post-translational modification of protein or DNA
• regulation of genes on top of primary nucleic acid sequence
• heritable
• differential gene expression: modification of cell DNA that either allows for expression of a gene or inhibits it

Question 7

What are 2 basic mechanisms that provide epigenetic control over gene expression?

Answer 7

• histone modification

- DNA methylation: switches off gene expression

Question 8

glycolysis

Answer 8

• takes place in the cytosol

- for every molecule of glucose, it produces 2 molecules of pyruvate, 2 molecules of NADH, and 2 molecules of ATP (net)

Question 9

oxidative phosphorylation + Krebs cycle

Answer 9

• occur in mitochondria
• in combination, consume 2 molecules pyruvate, fatty acids, 2 molecules acetyl co-A
• in combination, produce 8 NADH, 2 GTP, 2 FADH2, and 6 CO2 molecules

Question 10

What are the 3 main types of cytoskeletal filaments?

Answer 10

• microfilaments (actin filaments): cell surface shape and motion
• intermediate filaments: mechanical strength; neurofilaments and GFAP
• microtubules: position and transport of organelles

Question 11

filament

Answer 11

• proteins composed of monomers (tubulin?) connected by noncovalent bonds
• dynamic

Question 12

motor proteins

Answer 12

• use ATP hydrolysis to move cargoes
• kinesins
• dyneins
• myosins (actin-binding mp)