Lecture 12 - Gene regulation in eukaryotes

Question 1

what are the seven levels of gene regulation in eukaryotes?

Answer 1

1) chromatin remodelling
2) transcriptional control
3) RNA processing - 5’ capping, 3’ polyadenylation, splicing
4) RNA localisation
5) RNA stability and degradation
6) Translational control
7) Protein folding, post-translational modification
NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE

Question 2

what are the seven levels of gene regulation in eukaryotes?

Answer 2

1) chromatin remodelling
2) transcriptional control
3) RNA processing - 5’ capping, 3’ polyadenylation, splicing
4) RNA localisation
5) RNA stability and degradation
6) Translational control
7) Protein folding, post-translational modification

Question 3

Describe chromatin remodelling.

Answer 3

> histone structure can be modified. Generally:
- histone acetylation is associated with active chromatin
-histone and especially DNA methylation (cytosines, methyl-C) inactive genes
e.g., in some cases cancer cells’ tumour suppressor genes are inappropriately repressed by methylation, and heterochromatin is activated by acetylation.

Question 4

Describe chromatin remodelling.

Answer 4

> histone structure can be modified. Generally:
- histone acetylation is associated with active chromatin - i.e., euchromatin, loose, easier to transcribe
-histone and especially DNA methylation (cytosines, methyl-C) inactive genes, i.e., heterochromatin, tightly condensed DNA
e.g., in some cases cancer cells’ tumour suppressor genes are inappropriately repressed by methylation, and heterochromatin is activated by acetylation.