Microbial Genetics Flashcards
What does adenine pair with?
Thymine (A-T)
What 4 nucleotides compose DNA?
Adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
What does guanine pair with?
Cytosine (G-C)
How many nucleotides are on a single strand? And what do they code for?
A set of 3 nucleotides on one strand
Encodes for specific AA.
Where does DNA replication begin?
At a specific nucleotide sequence called a replication origin.
Where does synthesis occur, and what does it use?
On both strands using a variety of enzymes and proteins
DNA replication is semi ______?
Conservative
Which direction does replication proceed in?
5’ to 3’ direction on DNA strand.
What is the leading strand?
The single strand that is synthesized continuously during DNA replication.
What is the lagging strand?
The strand that is synthesized discontinuously in pieces during DNA replication.
What are the “pieces” on the lagging strand called?
Okazaki fragments.
Where does information from DNA pass to during gene expression?
To an RNA copy of the gene
What does the RNA copy direct?
The sequential assembly of a chain of AAs.
What is the path of the central dogma?
DNA —> (transcription)—> RNA —> (translation)—> protein
What are the 3 steps in transcription?
1) mRNA (messenger) is synthesized from DNA template by RNA polymerase
2) RNA nucleotides are adenine, uracil, guanine, cytosine
3) the newly created mRNA is immediately moved to ribosomes for translation.
What is translation?
Process of synthesizing proteins that occurs simultaneously with transcription.
Where does translation occur?
On ribosomes
How are the AAs assembled in translation?
Into growing polypeptide chain (when folded = protein)
How many genes are encoded on a single RNA in bacteria?
Bacteria frequently have more than one gene encoded on a single RNA using only one promotor
What controls transcription of genes?
Often controlled by means of a regulatory region, acts as an on/off switch.
Where is the regulatory region located?
Near the promotor, which is where a regulatory protein can bind.
What is the term for the following definition?: a set of adjacent genes coordinately controlled by a regulatory protein and transcribed as a single RNA message.
Operon
Operons are ______ or _______
Inducible or repressible
What does an inducible operon require?
And inducer to prevent a repressor protein from binding to the operator.
What does the repressible operon require?
That the operator be bound by a repressor
What is the term for the following description? End product inhibit enzymes early in pathway preventing production of the end product
Feedback inhibition
Where do spontaneous mutations occur?
In the natural environment
What is the term if only one base is changed?
Point mutation
Define missense mutation
Substitution of different AA in protein
What type of mutation occurs If change creates stop codon instead of normal AA coding codon?
Nonsense mutation
What does a removal or addition of nucleotides lead to?
Change in the way the DNA sequence is read - changes the codon frame or reading frame –> frame shift
What are transposons, and what are the AKA?
Segments of DNA that can move spontaneously from one site to another in the same or different DNA molecule.
Aka - jumping genes
What is an induced mutation?
A change in DNA sequence that is the result of a mutagen such ad radiation or chemical agents
What do chemical mutagens do to DNA?
Alters the binding of the DNA molecule.
What are 3 kinds of chemical mutagens?
Alkylation agents
Base analogs
Intercalating agents
What 2 types of radiation cause mutations?
UV
X-ray
What does uv light cause?
Thymine dimers
What does X-ray radiation cause to happen to DNA ?
Causes single and double stranded breaks in DNA
How are mutations repaired?
Bacteria may employ mismatch (or excision repair) as well as SOS repair.
What is mutant selection?
In order to study the function of various genes investigators induce mutations and select specific types of mutants to help understand the normal gene function.
What are two types of nutritional mutants?
Prototroph
Auxotrophs
Cells that grow without added growth factors (natural strains) are called what?
Prototrophs
What are cells that grow only with growth factors added in the lab called?
Auxotrophs
What are conditional lethal mutants?
Mutants defective for the synthesis of an essential macromolecule under specific conditions.
Who first demonstrated transformation?
Griffith.
What did Griffith recognize?
Some unknown compound was transforming bacterial cells (later identified as DNA)
What happens as cells die and burst?
DNA is released
*dna is not contained in a cell, it is “naked” *
What does a competent cell mean?
Recipient cell is able to take up DNA.
mechanism of competence is poorly understood, many populations are naturally competent during log phase of growth
How can competence be induced in any cell?
By treatment with CaCl2. Or by subjecting cells to an electrical current, called electroporation.
What does conjugation require contact between?
The two bacterial cells.
What two ways can DNA be transferred during conjugation?
1) plasmid DNA
2) chromosomal DNA
Which plasmid is transferred in plasmid DNA transfer?
The F plasmid (fertility plasmid)
What is the donor cell called in plasmid DNA transfer?
The donor cell containing the F plasmid is called F+ or male.
What is the recipient cell in plasmid DNA transfer called?
F- or female.
What does the F plasmid series of genes code for?
Formation of a sex pilus
When can the F plasmid transfer chromosomal DNA?
If the F first integrates into the chromosome then excises, bringing a portion of chromosome (F’ cell)
What is an Hfr cell?
A cell with a F plasmid that has integrated into the chromosome.
What must the Hfr cell do in order to transfer DNA?
Excise the F plasmid. The excised plasmid is termed F’ (F prime)
What is transduction?
Transfer of dna from cell to cell via a bacteriophage.
What two ways do bacteriophages interact with cells?
Lytic
Lysogenic
What happens during lytic interaction? (Long answer, sorry)
- phage (virus) overtakes cell
- assembly of new phage, and bacterial chromosomal DNA may be incorporated
- cell lyses to expel new phages containing bacterial DNA - phage is capable of transduction
What happens during lysogenic interactions?
- phage DNA integrates into host DNA. (Temperate phase)
- phage DNA remains in cell for few to many generations
- eventually becomes lytic
- if a viral gene is permanently incorporated into bacterial DNA called lysogenic conversion
- results in new bacterial strain.
What are the two types of transduction?
Generalized and specialized.
What is packaged during generalized transduction?
During production soe. Phages accidentally package only bacterial chromosomal DNA and not viral DNA in capsid.
What does the phage do during generalized transduction after packaging is completed?
This phage can still infect cells, but injects bacterial chromosomal DNA into host