Lecture 13 Chromosome Structure and Transposons Ch. 11, 18 Flashcards
Why does tight DNA present a problem for cellular function?
Packing renders the DNA inaccessible for reading or copying
What is supercoiling?
Supercoiling is over-winding or under-winding of DNA, causing it to twist on itself
What is positive supercoiling?
Molecules are over rotated
What causes negative supercoiling?
Molecules are under rotated
What role do topisomerases play in supercoiling?
Enzymes that add or remove rotations from DNA: Can both induce and relieve supercoiling
Temporarily break nucleotide strands
Rotate ends around each other
Rejoin broken ends
What is the advantage of DNA being negatively supercoiled?
Makes separation of two strands easier during replication and transcription
Allows DNA to be packed into smaller sspace compared to relaxed DNA
Define chromatin
Combination of DNA and proteins
Euchromatin
Undergoes the normal process of condensation and decondensation in cell cycle
Heterchromatin
Remains in a highly condensed state through the cell cycle
What are the components of a nucleosome?
Core particle consisting of DNA + 8 histone proteins
What are the histones forming the nucleosome?
H2A, H2B, H3, H4 x 2
What histone attaches DNA to nucleosome?
H1
Nucleosome + H1 = ?
Chromatosome which consists of 167 bp
Chromatosomes are separated by what?
Linker DNA ~ 30-40 bp
What is polytene chromosome created by?
Repeated rounds of DNA replication with no cell division
What does epigenetic change cause?
Causes inherited phenotypic change without affecting the DNA sequence
What causes epigenetic changes?
Methylation; capable of being reversed and often due to environmental factors
What are centromeric sequences?
They are the binding sites for the kinetochore, where spindle fibers attach
Centromeres are mostly what?
Heterochromatic
What are centromeres probably defined by?
Epigenetic (nonsequence) changes rather than DNA sequences
What role does CenH3 play in the organization of a centromere?
Replaces H3 in most eukaryote centromeresl. Modified H3 histone
What do centromeres singal?
The begining of anaphase
What function is suggested by the fact that chromosomes that have telomeres are not degraded?
Telomeres stabilize ends of chromosomes
What do telomeric sequences consist of?
Repeated sequence of A or T nucleotides followed by several G nucleotides