Molecular Biology Flashcards
What is protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)?
Helps reduce improper disulfide bonds on proteins & correct them
What does peptide prolyl isomerase (PPI) do?
Helps catalyze transformation of proline bond from trans–>cis conformation in peptides
What are the protein accumulations called in Parkinson’s Disease?
Lewy bodies
What are the two classes of chaperone proteins?
- Hsp70/Hsp40
2. Chaperonin (GroEL/GroES)
What is the Bohr effect?
Blood in lung has higher pH than in metabolic tissues. At higher pH, O2 binds well; at lower pH; O2 releases well. = pH conditions encourage transfer efficiency
What are the major post-translational modifications of proteins that occur?
hydroxyproline, gamma-carboxyglutamate, glycoslylation, acetylation & methylation, reversible phosphorylation, & ubiquitination
What are the aromatic side chains?
Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, and Tryptophan
What are the basic side chains?
Histidine, Lysine, and Arginine
What is the role of Apolipoprotein E in Alzheimer’s Disease?
Apo E promotes the processing and clearance of AB42 (GOOD)
What is the role of presenilin in Alzheimer’s Disease?
Mutations in the gene can cause an increase in AB42 (BAD)
What does Vitamin C help with?
Addition of hydroxyl group to proline –> good collagen fibers
What disease does a Vitamin K deficiency cause?
Vit K helps with addition of carboxyl group to glutamate in proteins involved in clotting factors –> deficiency leads to clotting disorders
What are DNA control elements?
Local parts of the DNA sequence that control transcription of a gene. Transcription factors bind to these regions & regulate gene expression.
What is the TATA box?
Region 25-35 bps upstream of site of initiation of transcription. Directs binding of RNA polymerase II
What are promoter proximal elements?
Generally within 200 bps of initiation site. Bind transcription factors that are cell type-specific
What are enhancers?
Multiple control regions, generally 8-20 bps long. Can be tens of kilobases upstream or downstream from initiation site, last exon. Help to regulate in a cell type-specific way
Thalassemias
Variety of disorders that lead to anemia. Caused by mutations in DNA control elements, such as the promoter sequence for a beta-globin gene
Fragile-X Syndrome
1/1500 males, results in mental retardation, dysmorphic facial features, and post-pubertal macroorchidism. Overexpression of CGG repeats on FMR1 gene cause increased methylation of cytosine residues (CpG) and increased gene silencing
Hemophilia B Leyden
X-linked genetic disorder that causes clotting issues. Mutation in promoter sequence for Factor IX gene - males make 1% of normal amount. After puberty, androgen receptor binds overlapping site in promoter –> males make 60% of normal amount
What are transcription activators & repressors?
Proteins that are encoded by one gene that act on another gene to activate/repress transcription
What are the domains of a sequence specific DNA binding protein?
- DNA binding domain (sequence specificity)
2. Activation/repression domain (mediate protein-protein interactions, TF binding)
What are the two classes of activators and repressors?
- Sequence specific DNA binding proteins
2. Co-factors
What are the four major categories of sequence specific DNA binding proteins?
- Homeodomains
- Zinc finger
- Basic leucine zipper (Bzip)
- Helix-loop-helix
What is the difference between cofactors and general transcription factors?
Cofactors influence the RATE of transcription, while general transcription factors provide the pre-initiation complex needed to begin transcription
Combinatorial Control
bZIP, bHLH, & Zinc finger. All form heterodimers. Different combos = different strengths = different sites = different rates of expression
Waardenburg Type II Syndrome
Causes deafness, anomalies in pigmentation. A defect in the gene for a TF that causes the production of melanocytes.
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)
Boys are born with normal karyotype (XY) but have abnormal genitalia, do not grow 2dary sex characteristics, etc. Mutation on androgen receptor in either ligand-binding or DNA-binding domain –> androgen insensitivity
Craniosynostosis
Defect in the homeodomain of a DNA binding protein that binds to MSX2 gene –> gain of function –> premature closing of the skull in infants
Nucleosome
Fundamental repeating unit of chromatin = 147 bp of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins approximately 1.7 times
What are the two classes of chromatin remodeling factors?
- DNA-dependent ATPases
2. HATs & HDACs
What are HATs and HDACs?
- Histone acetyltransferases - transfer acetyl group onto N-terminal of lysine at end of histone = co-activators
- Histone deacetylase - remove acetyl group from histone = co-repressors
= together, regulate recruitment of TFs
Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome
Results in mental retardation, craniofacial abnormalities, etc. Results from mutation in gene coding for CBP (CREB binding protein), which is a HAT = transcriptional activator
Leukemia
Gain of function fusion proteins. Sometimes fusion of TFs with HDACs or HATs occurs –> altering of the regulators
What are 2 sequence specific DNA binding proteins whose entry into the nucleus is regulated?
NF-κB and NF-AT