Lecture 7 Flashcards
Genetic instruction is a ____ letter alphabet
4
Where is hereditary information stored?
In DNA
What directs the formation of an organism?
4 nucleotides
What do nucleotides specify?
The linear order of amino acids in each protein
What determines the biological functions within a cell?
Properties of proteins
How does DNA control protein synthesis?
DNA does not control protein synthesis directly; uses RNA as an intermediary
What is copied into RNA? What is the name of the process?
A gene (appropriate piece of DNA); Transcription
RNA is used as a template to direct the synthesis of a protein during what process?
Translation
What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
DNA(replication)DNA—transcription—>RNA—-translation—>Protein
What are the similarities of RNA and DNA?
Both are linear polymers
Made of nucleotides connected by phosphodiester bonds
What are the major differences between RNA and DNA?
RNA is single stranded———–DNA double stranded
RNA has ribonucleotides———DNA deoxyribonucleotides
RNA has Uracil——————–DNA Thymine
RNA can fold into complex 3-D structures allowing some RNAs to have precise structural and catalytic functions
Ribose vs deoxyribose: which one has one less OH and is replaced with H?
Deoxyribose
Uracil vs Thymine: Which one has a methyl group instead of C-H?
Thymine
What direction is mRNA read?
5’->3’
What are mRNAs?
Messenger RNA that direct protein synthesis. Coding RNAs
3-5% of total cellular RNA
What is the final product of many genes?
RNA
Non-coding RNA serve as what?
Enzymatic and structural components for many biological processes
rRNA:
Ribosomal RNA form the core(basic structure) of ribosome and catalyze protein synthesis
snRNA:
small nuclear RNA direct the splicing of pre-mRNA to for mRNA
tRNA:
Transfer RNA form adaptors that select and hold amino acids during protein synthesis
snoRNAs
Small nucleolar RNAs, help to process and chemically modify rRNAs
siRNA:
Small interfering RNA regulate eukaryotic gene expression by degrading select mRNA
miRNAs:
Regulate gene expression by blocking translation of specific mRNAs and cause their degradation
Bacterial RNA polymerase structure
Multi-subunit complex
RNA Pol
Holoenzyme a2bbsigma
What is present at the active site in RNA polymerase?
Mg2+
Where do ribonucleosides enter the RNA Pol?
Through the ribonucleoside triphosphate uptake channel
What is the function of RNA Pol?
Catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds that link nucleotides
Has proof-reading nuclease activity
Why can lower fidelity of RNA synthesis be tolerated by organisms?
Because mistakes are not transmitted to progeny
What are the general features of transcription?
- polymerase binds to promoter on DNA
- Unwinding of a portion of DNA
- Other strand acts as a template
- Complementary base pairing between nucleotides and DNA template
- Nucleotides covalently linked by phosphodiester bonds
- RNA sequence elongated 5’-3’ direction
- Released from DNA as single strand
What is the end result of transcription?
RNA sequence exactly complementary to the template strand and identical to the coding strand
What is the most important step in gene expression in prokaryotes? Why?
Initiation.
It is the main regulatory step; decides which proteins produced and at what rate
What are the steps of PT-initiation?
- RNA Pol assembles into holoenzyme and slides down the DNA until it locates a promoter
- The sigma subunit binds to the promotor and forms an open promoter complex
- Makes specific contacts with exposed bases
- Unwinds a short (17bp) segment of double-stranded DNA to form a transcription bubble
- One strand becomes template strand
- Transcription begins-short RNA formed via scrunching
- Polymerase still on promoter and pulls DNA to active site
- Stress causes abortive initiation with short RNA
What creates an open promoter complex?
Sigma subunit binding to promoter
What is a transcription bubble?
Short segment of double stranded DNA unwound by RNA Pol
What drives the reaction forward during PT transcription? What bonds are formed?
Hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (ATP, CTP, UTP, and GTP) provides energy to form phosphodiester bonds and drive reaction forward.
What are the nucleoside triphosphates used in PT transcription?
ATP, CTP, GTP, UTP
What are promoters?
Special sequences of nucleotides that direct the RNA polymerase to the proper initiation site for transcription