Molecular Bioclass 3 Flashcards
Antiparallel orientation
5’ end of one chain is paired with the 3’ end of the other
Annealing (hybridization)
The bonding of two complimentary strands of DNA into a double-stranded structure
Melting (denaturation)
The separation of strands
Genome
The sum total of the organisms genetic information
Chromosomes
Eukaryotes genomes are composed of several large pieces of linear dis-DNA called chromosomes. Humans have 46. Half from mom and half from dad. 23 pairs
DNA gyrase
Uses the energy from ATP to twist the gigantic circular molecule. Breaks the dna and twists the two strands around each other making super coils
Histones
8 of them in a clump. Globular proteins that are wrapped inside dna. Have a lot of amino acids that are positively charged ( lysine and arginine) packs with the negative charged backbone of dna
Nucleosomes
Composed of dna wrapped around an octane of histones (a group of eight). The octane is composed of two units of each of the histone proteins H2a, H2b, h3 and H4. The string between the beads is a length of double helical DNA called linker DNA and is bound by a single linker histone
Chromatin
Fully packed DNA. It is composed of closely stacked nucleosomes
Stricture of DNA in the Nucleus
Deoxyribose, add base, nucleoside ,add 3 phosphates, nucleotide, polymerize with loss of two phosphates, oligonucleotide, continue polymerization, single- stranded polynucleotide, 2 complete chains H-bond in antiparallel orientation
, ds DNA chain, coiling occurs, ds helix, wrap around histones, nucleosomes, complete packing, chromatin
Heterochromatin
Chromosome portion that is darker. Rich in repeats
Euchomatin
Lighter regions of the chromosome are less dense. Unwound, active
Centromeres
Regions of the chromosome were central’s attach during cell division. The fibers attach via kinetochores. Made of heterochromatin and repetitive dna sequences
Kinetochores
Multiprotein complexes that act as anchor attachment sites for single fibers
Telomeres
At the end of the chromosome. Repeated 50 to a several hundred times. Usually 6 to 8 base unit pairs long and rich in guanine (G). Made of both single and double stranded DNA
Telomeres function
To prevent deterioration and also prevent fusion with neighboring chromosomes. No found in prokaryotes. They act as buffers blocking the ends of the chromosomes
RNA is different from DNA
- Single stranded (except in viruses)
- Contains uracil instead of thymine
- The pentode ring in RNA is ribose rather than 2’ deoxyribose
RNA less stable
RNA is less stable because 2’ hydroxyl can nucleophilically attack the backbone phosphate group of an RNA chain, causing hydrolysis when the remainder of the chain acts as leaving group
DNA is more stable
DNA does not have a 2’ hydroxyl
Heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA)
In eukaryotes the first RNA transcribed from DNA is an immature of precursor for RNA. Processing events are requires (splicing or adding a cap) for hnRNA to become mature mRNA. Only found in eukaryotes
Non-coding RNA (ncRNA)
Functional RNA not coded into protein. The human genome codes for thousands of rcRNAs, and there are several types. Two major types are tRNA and rRNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
responsible for translating the genetic code. Carries amino acids from the cytoplasm to the ribosome to be added to a growing protein
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
Major component of the ribosome. Humans have 4 different kind. 18S, 5.8S, 28S, and 5S. Almost all of the RNA made in a given cell is rRNA.
Function of rRNA
Serves as the catalytic function of the ribosome, which is a little odd. In most other cases enzymes are made of polypeptides.