module 1: genome (dis)organization Flashcards
How would you define the term “genome”?
The entire genetic
complement (complete set
of DNA) of a living
organism.
(T/F) Genome only describes the nuclear genomes of eukaryotes.
False!
Genome includes both the
nuclear and mitochondrial
genomes of eukaryotes.
Answer the following questions regarding human MITOCHONDRIAL genome:
1) Size (bp)
2) # of different molecules
3) # of DNA molecules per cell
4) Approximate # of genes
5) % of DNA that is protein-coding
Size (bp): 16,569
different molecules : 1 (circular)
DNA molecules per cell: 1,000-10,000
Approximate # of genes: 37 (13 protein coding)
% of DNA that is protein-coding: 65%
*mitochondrial DNA is haploid as there is only ONE unique molecule
Answer the following questions regarding human NUCLEAR genome:
1) Size (bp)
2) # of different molecules
3) # of DNA molecules per cell
4) Approximate # of genes
5) % of DNA that is protein-coding
Size (bp): 3.05 billion (haploid #)
different molecules: 23 (XX) or 24 (XY)
DNA molecules per cell: 46 (diploid)
Approximate # of genes: ~42000 (~20000 protein coding)
% of DNA that is protein-coding: 1-1.5%
Is the mitochondrial genome similar to eukaryotic or prokaryotic and why?
Prokaryotic
- Single ORI
- Very few promoters (POLYCISTRONIC)
- Singular
- Circular
(T/F) Nuclear chromosomes have a promoter for each gene.
True! (MONOCISTRONIC)
Define polycistronic mRNA.
mRNA that codes for multiple genes using a single promoter.
Mitochondrial genomes are made of heavy and light strands. Define these strands.
Heavy: rich in purines (A/G) - extra rings
Light: rich in pyrimidines (T/C)
What kind of genes are encoded by the mitochondrial genome?
22 tRNA, 2rRNA, and 13 protein subunits of mitochondrial respiratory chain
What are the three promoters found in the mitochondrial genome and their functions?
- HSP1 (heavy strand promoter 1 ): transcription of the two rRNAs
- HSP2: transcription of the rest of heavy strand (polycistronic transcript)
- LSP (light strand promoter): transcription of the light strand
What are NUMTS?
Mitochondrial genomic sequences found in nuclear genomes.
Can be small or the full sequences.
Which one of the statements is true regarding the eukaryotic nuclear genome?
- Nuclear genome is split into a set of linear DNA molecules
- # of chromosomes is the same between eukaryotes
1!
For 2, # of chromosomes is VARIABLE between eukaryotes.
What is the C-value and how is it reported?
‘C-value’ means the ‘constant’ value of haploid DNA content per nucleus (total amount of DNA in a gamete)
It is reported in PICOGRAMS (1pg is 1 billion bp)
What is the human C-value?
3.05pg
Define the C-value paradox/enigma?
Genome size (total # of genes) does not correlate with organismal complexity* (eukaryotes).
*how are the genes turned on? how is protein expression regulated?
What are exons?
Sections RETAINED in mature RNA after RNA splicing.
Give two examples of why the statement exons = coding is false.
- Exons include UTRs that are not part of the mature protein
- Non-coding RNAs (RNAs transcribed from the genome are never translated into proteins)
(T/F) There are almost as many non-coding genes as there are coding genes.
True!
1) What are pseudogenes?
2) How do pseudogenes arise?
Pseudogenes are any genomic sequence that is SIMILAR to another gene and is DEFECTIVE.
They arise from REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION/INTEGRATION of a processed mRNA or from gene duplications that accumulate mutations that prevent translation.
How can you tell the difference between pseudogenes and regular genes?
Pseudogenes are usually intron-less.
_________ sequences make up the bulk of our genome (more than 50%). They are referred to as _____ DNA.
Give examples.
Repetitive; Junk
- Tandem repeats
- Telomeres
- Centromeres
- Transposable elements
What are tandem repeats? What are the two types found?
Tandem repeats are sequences of DNA bases that are repeated one after the other.
- Microsatellites
- Minisatellites
Microsatellites are __-__ bp motif, repeated multiple times (total length up to ___bp).
Found in:
Aka:
2-10 (very short), 100bp
coding as well as non-coding regions
SHORT TANDEM REPEATS (STRs)
Minisatellites are __-__ bp motif, repeated multiple times (up to __kb).
Found in:
Aka:
10-100 (5kb)
subtelomeric regions (adjacent to the telomeres)
VARIABLE NUMBER TANDEM REPEATS (VNTRs)
What are telomeres?
Conserved tandem repeats (5’-TTAGGG-3’) at the ends of a chromosome (3,000x).
(T/F) Telomeric DNA contains double-stranded base pairs and single-stranded G-overhang.
True.
9-15,000 ds base pairs and 150-300nt G-overhangs.
What is the T-loop? What helps stabilize it?
T-loop forms to protect the single-stranded ends of telomeres from the DNA repair machinery.
Binding of the SHELTERIN complex (6 proteins) helps stabilize it.
What is the “end-replication” problem?
What is the role of telomeres?
At the very 5’ end of the DNA, there is an RNA primer that gives a 3’-OH to initiate synthesis in the 5’—>3’ direction. This primer can not be replaced with DNA because there is nothing to prime the synthesis reaction, leaving a gap at the 5’ end.
This causes the telomeres of chromosomes to get shorter and shorter with each round of replication.
Telomeres protect against the loss of genetic material.
What happens when telomeres get really short?
When telomeres get so short, they withdraw from the cell cycle and enter the G0 phase.
They are in a SENESCENCE state - not dormant as they are metabolically active but no longer dividing.
(T/F) Tumours have to overcome the problem of senescence.
True!
Senescence is a barrier to proliferation. Tumours have to overcome this problem by re-expressing the telomerase enzyme that allows them to extend these telomeres which causes the cell division process to start over again.
What are centromeres?
Repetitive DNA sequences (tandem repeats; AT-rich).
*Repetitive DNA found in centromeres is often called alpha-satellite DNA.
(T/F) Between two monomers in centromeres, the sequence can vary ~60%.
False!
Between two monomers in centromeres, the sequence can vary ~40% in sequences.
Monomers (171bp) in centromeres are arranged head-to-tail and are repeated to form _____ ____ ____, which are organized in tandem to form _________.
Higher Order Repeat (HOR); homogenous higher order alpha satellite array
Within the 171bp monomers, there is a ______ box (17 box motif) that directs the binding of protein ________, which recruits other proteins. Together they form the structure called ___________.
Within the 171bp monomers, there is a CENP-B box (17 box motif) that directs the binding of protein CENP-B, which recruits other proteins. Together they form the structure called KINETOCHORE.
1) What is CENP-A?
2) What is the function of the kinetochore?
3) What % of centromeres make up the human genome?
- CENP-A is a histone H3 variant ONLY FOUND in centromeres, part of the kinetochore.
- Chromosome segregation (attachment of microtubules) and stability
- 3%
(T/F) Transposable elements, another form of repetitive DNA sequences, make up to 45% of the genome.
True!