Lecture 20: Transcription & RNA Metabolism Flashcards
Intro Facts
Where does Transcription and Translation occur in prokaryotic cells?
Eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic - everything occurs in the cytoplasm
Eukaryotic
- Transcription & Processing/Transportation
= Nucleus
- Translation = in the Cytoplasm
Intro Facts
What is transcription?
What is the purpose of transcription?
- Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA
- The purpose of transcription is to make RNA copies of genes
Intro Facts
How many DNA serve as a template in transcription?
Only one DNA will serve as a template
Intro facts
What is the template strand?
What is the non template/coding strand?
Template: The strand that is complimentary to RNA transcript
Non template: the same sequence as RNA (with T instead of U)
Transcription vs. DNA replication
How much of the genome is copied in Transcription vs. DNA replication?
Transcription: One/particular group of genes
DNA replication: whole genome
Transcription vs. DNA replication
What is the template used in Transcription vs. DNA replication?
Transcription: only one strand serves as the template
DNA replication: both strands will serve as template
Transcription vs. DNA replication
Which processes use primers?
Transcription does not use primers
DNA replication uses primers
Transcription Basics
Are polymers built continuously?
Yes, polymers are built continuously (processive)
Transcription Basics
In what direction is RNA synthesized?
Describe the relationship between the template and RNA strand
5’ -> 3’
- They are anti-parallell
Transcription Basics
What is RNA Polymerase?
Enzymes that catalyzes the synthesis of RNA by reading the template strand
Transcription Basics
Does RNA polymerase require a primer?
What does RNA polymerase use?
- Does not require a primer
- Uses ribonucleotides
Essential Components of a Gene
What are the 4 essential components of a gene?
1) Promoter
2) Transcription factors
3) RNA Polymerase
4) Terminator
Essential Components of a Gene
What is the promotor region?
Sequence of DNA where transcription proteins assemble
Essential Components of a Gene
What specific machinery do we need at the promoter?
- Transcription factors
- RNA Polymerase
Essential Components of a Gene
What do transcription factors do?
They are proteins that bind to promoters to direct RNA synthesis
MAIN PURPOSE: Increase affinity of RNA polymerase at the promoter region
Essential Components of a Gene
What is the terminator region?
Sequence of DNA where transcription ends
Transcription Phases
What are the 4 phases of transcription?
What is its nemonic?
1) Assemble
2) Initiation
3) Elongation
4) Termination
Aliens Invade Earth Tonight
Transcription Phases
Which phases of transcription are very different in prokaryotes vs. eukaryotes?
Initiation & termination
Transcription Phases
What are transcription factors typically referred to as in prokaryotes?
Sigma factors
Transcription Phases
What are sigma factors?
Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences in the promoter and increase affinity for RNA polymerase
Transcription Phases
What are consensus sequences?
DNA sequences that transcription factors and polymerases repeatedly assemble at
Transcription Phases
Where do transcription factors, sigma factors, and polymerases assemble?
They assemble at the promoter
Transcription Phases
What are the steps of initiation?
1) Initiation occurs at the promotor sequence
2) Transcription factors, sigma 70 & RNAPs assemble at the promoter region and forms a closed complex
3) Transcription bubble forms and RNAP forms open complex
4) Transcription is initiated
Transcription Phases
What are the main things that occur during elongation?
What are the steps of elongation?
Main Occurrences
- Clearing the promoter
- RNA polymerase builds the RNA strand by complementing the template strand
Steps
1) Sigma 70 disassociates
2) Sigma 70 is replaced by NusA
3) Transcription terminates and NusA disassociates
Transcription Phases
Super coils form during the elongation process
In what direction do they form?
What kind form?
Positive supercoils in the direction of transcription
Negative supercoils in the opposite direction of transcription
Transcription Phases
What is the cost of putting in a new nucleotide during elongation?
2 ATP equivalents
Transcription Phases
What is the main thing that occurs during termination?
RNA polymerase dissociates from DNA strand, releasing newly synthesized RNA polymer
Transcription Phases
What are the two different termination methods that occur in prokaryotes
- ρ-independent
- ρ-dependent
Transcription Phases
Describe the difference between ρ-independent and ρ-dependent
ρ-independent
- relies on a repeating palindromic sequences at the termination sequence
- RNA transcribed from these sequences fold onto itself
ρ-dependent
- relies on ρ helicase, a hexamer protein that binds to the rut element and travels fowards, disassociating the elongation machinery
Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Transcription
What are the 3 key differences between the two transcription methods?
1) There are many MORE transcription factors
called general transcription factors in
assembly, not one signal sigma factor
- However their job is still to increase affinity of promoter to RNA polymerase
2) C-terminal Domain (CTD) on RNA polymerase
is phosphorylated to start elongation
3) In the same vein, elongation is terminated by
dephosphorylation of RNA polymerase by
termination factors 12