Module 2 Practice Exam and Review Flashcards
What are the 3 classes of “functional” (non-mRNA) RNAs? Briefly describe the role of each class of functional RNA.
tRNA: brings the correct amino acid to the mRNA during translation
rRNA: major component of ribosomes
snRNA: helps process RNA transcripts (especially, helps remove introns).
- Messenger RNA: contains blueprint for protein synthesis
- Transfer RNA: brings correct amino acid to the ribosome
- Ribosomal RNA: makes ribosomes
Here is a list of eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Match them with what they transcribe.
RNA Pol I; RNA Pol II; RNA Pol III
mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, snRNA
?? RESEARCH THIS!!
RNA Pol I: rRNA
RNA Pol II: snRNA, mRNA
RNA Pol III: tRNA
continuous synthesis
leading strand
theta replication
bidirectional circular replication
In the Meselson-Stahl experiment, what hypothetical form of DNA replication results in the same DNA density distribution as the semiconservative method after the first cell division, but was not supported upon the second cell division?
??
dispersive replication?
Eukaryotes have two of these per chromatid; prokaryotes have none.
telomeres
In eukaryotes, tRNAs are
transcribed in the nucleus, but function in the cytoplasm.
As a ribosome translocates along an mRNA molecule by one codon, which of the following occurs?
The tRNA that was in the A site moves into the P site.
Transcription of the sequence AATGCGGTC would result in
UUACGCCAG
What is a gene?
A sequence of DNA that encodes a protein
Telomeres________________the end of chromosomes
stabilize
Which is true of the secondary structure of DNA?
Bases on complementary strands are held together by hydrogen bonds.
What is semiconservative replication?
??!!!!
Replication in which each of the original nucleotide strands remains intact, despite no longer being combined in the same molecule. The original DNA molecule is half conserved during replication. Each strand serves as a template for synthesis of a new strand. Production of two identical double strands of DNA consisting of one new strand and one original strand.
A friend gave you the following molecule and told you that it was a fragment of his RNA. Do you believe him? Justify your answer.
No, the molecule has T’s. If it were truly RNA, it would have U’s (Uracil) rather than T’s
An organism has a G content of 17%. What is the percentage for A?
33%
This molecule is synthesized using nucleotides containing the bases adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
RNA only
This enzyme links two separate lengths of nucleic acid by creating a phosphodiester bond between them.
DNA ligase
RNA polymerase II binds to the ____________ strand of DNA and uses it to guide transcription. In contrast, the strand not used to guide transcription is called the _____________ .
??!!!
leading, lagging?
Which of the following statements about the genetic code are TRUE?
Most amino acids are encoded by more than one codon
What chemical group is found at the 3’ end of a DNA molecule?
hydroxyl group
The nitrogenous base that is found in RNA but not in DNA is
uracil
What is the function of eukaryotic RNA polymerase I?
transcription of rRNA genes
Hairpins are formed in DNA as a result of
sequences on the same strand that are inverted and complementary
Translation of RNA into protein takes place on which cellular organelle?
Ribosome
What does “proofreading” refer to with regard to DNA replication?
??*
Looks for mismatched pairs
the ability for dna polymerase to remove and replace incorrectly paired nucleotides in the process of replication
Are Okazaki fragments formed on the leading strand during DNA replication? Explain your answer.
??*
No, they are what are linked together to form the lagging strand.
The bonds that connect nucleotides in a strand are called _________bonds.
phosphodiester
Which of the following DNA double helices would be more difficult to separate into single-stranded molecules by treatment with heat (which breaks hydrogen bonds)?
Indicate the reason for your choice.
DNA molecule B has indeed a higher A-T content. However, G-C pairs are held together by 3 hydrogen bonds while A-T bonds are held together by 2 hydrogen bonds. Hence, the higher number for G-C pairs gives the double-stranded DNA A a higher heat resistance.
This method of replication preserves the covalent links on one strand of DNA but allows permanent separation of the “parental” double helix to form two templates.
semi-conservative replication
DNA ligase
phosphodiester bonds at DNA nicks
In what cellular compartment are introns removed from pre-mRNA to make mature mRNA?
Nucleus
Which of the following traits exemplify plasmid DNA?
It often carries genes beneficial to its bacterial host.
It replicates independently of the genomic DNA.
Which of the following statements is NOT true about enhancers?
Enhancers are recognized by and bind directly to RNA polymerase.
The role of tRNA is:
to act as transporters bringing amino acids to the site of protein synthesis.
Which diagram shows a nucleotide that would be used to make RNA?
??!!
Not the double ring one, with 3 total rings and one phosphate group
The DNA replication enzyme that most closely resembles RNA polymerase is
primase
A coworker in your lab discovered a strain of E. coli that has a nonfunctional RNA polymerase. He felt sorry for the suffering E. coli and decided to add an RNA polymerase enzyme and gene from Drosophila to this mutant E. coli to allow the mutant strain to survive. You think that this is a foolish idea that will not work. Put together an argument as to why the addition of a Drosophila RNA polymerase could not possibly allow this mutant E. coli to survive.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases are different. The Drosophila RNA polymerase will not be able to find the E. coli promoters and thus will not be able to transcribe any of the E. coli genes.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases are different. The Drosophila RNA polymerase will not be able to find the E. coli promoters and thus will not be able to transcribe any of the E. coli genes.
A number of scientists have become interested in telomerase as a drug target. Why would they be interested in telomerase? How might cancer drug therapies that target telomerase work?
??
Telomerase is an enzyme that prevents the telomeres of a chromosome from shortening. When the telomeres shorten, the cell eventually dies. In cancer cells, telomerase is constantly working so the cells never die.
90% of all cancers express telomerase. Cancer therapies may work to inactivate the overexpression of telomerase enzymatic activity in order to reduce the immortality conferred by telomerase which plays a role in cancer development.
The enzyme telomerase allows for replacement of short bits of DNA known as telomeres, which are otherwise shortened when a cell divides via mitosis.
In normal circumstances, without the presence of telomerase, if a cell divides recursively, at some point all the progeny will reach their Hayflick limit. With the presence of telomerase, each dividing cell can replace the lost bit of DNA, and any single cell can then divide unbounded. While this unbounded growth property has excited many researchers, caution is warranted in exploiting this property, as exactly this same unbounded growth is a crucial step in enabling cancerous growth.
The poly(A) tails found in the 3’ end of an mRNA are important for all the processes listed below except for ___ and ___.
intron splicing
protein stability
This new strand of DNA has its 3’ end oriented in the opposite direction as that in which the replication fork travels.
lagging strand
DNA gyrase
supercoil removal