Molecular Flashcards
heterochromatin
highly dense
darker on EM
transcriptionally inactive
euchromatin
less condensed
lighter on EM
transcriptionally active
DNA methylation
represses transcription
mutes DNA
histone methylation
reversibly represses DNA transcription, but can activate it depending on methylation location
(mutes DNA)
histone acetylation
relaxes DNA coiling, allowing for transcription
activates DNA
NucleoSide
base + deoxyribose (Sugar)
NucleoTide
base + deoxyribose + phosphaTe
Purine Nucleotides
A
G
amino acids required for purine synthesis
Glycine
Aspartate
Glutamine
Pyrimidine Nucleotides
C
T (DNA)
U (RNA)
Methotrexate (MTX)
inhibit dihydrofolate reductase (decreasing dTMP - deoxythymidine monophosphate)
(disrupts pyrimidine synthesis)
Adenosine deaminase deficiency
ADA is required for degradation of adenosine and deoxyadenosine. In ADA deficiency, increased dATP, leading to toxicity in lymphocytes.
(major cause of SCID)
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Defective purine salvage due to absent HGPRT
HGPRT: Hyperuricemia Gout Pissed off (aggression, self-mutilation) Retardation (intellectual disability) DysTonia
Unambiguous genetic code
Each codon specifies only 1 amino acid
Degenerate/redundant genetic code
Most amino acids are coded by multiple codons.
Wobble—codons that differ in 3rd, “wobble” position may code for the same tRNA/amino acid. Specific base pairing is usually only required in the first 2 nucleotide positions of mRNA codon.