Nucleic Acids Flashcards
DNA structure and replication, Transcription and gene expression, Translation
Draw and label the structure of a nucleosome, including the H1 protein, the octamer core proteins, linker DNA and two wraps of DNA
Explain the levels of supercoiling (DNA→ nucleosome → beads on a string → 30nm fiber → unreplicated interphase chromosome → replicated metaphase chromosome)
Outline the features of DNA structure that suggested a mechanism for DNA replication
Compare replication on the the leading strand and the lagging strand of DNA
Explain why replication is different on the leading and lagging strands of DNA
Outline the formation of Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand
Outline the role of the following proteins in DNA replications: helicase, topoisomerase (AKA gyrase), single stranded binding proteins, primase, DNA polymerase III, DNA polymerase I, and DNA ligase
Explain the need for RNA primers in DNA replication
Explain what is meant by DNA replication occurring in a 5’ to 3’ direction
Define “coding sequences” and “repetitive sequences” of DNA
Outline five functions of non-coding DNA sequences found in genomes, one of which must be the telomere
Outline the process of X-ray diffraction
Outline the deductions about DNA structure made from the X-ray diffraction pattern
Define VNTR
Explain why VNTR are used in DNA profiling
Outline the process of DNA sequencing, including the role of chain terminator nucleotides, fluorescence, and electrophoresis
State the experimental question being tested in the Hershey and Chase experiment
Explain the procedure of the Hershey and Chase experiment
Explain how the results of the Hershey and Chase experiment supported the notion of nucleic acids as the genetic material
Identify nucleosome structures using molecular visualization software
Outline the mechanism of histone-DNA association
Describe Rosalind Franklin’s role in the elucidation of the structure of DNA
Define “gene expression”
State two reasons why gene expression must be regulated
Outline the environmental regulation of the breakdown of lactose in E. coli
Outline the role of enhancers, silencers and promoter-proximal elements in regulation of gene expression
Describe the use of twin studies to measure the impact of environment on gene expression
Outline two examples of environmental influence on gene expression
Outline the effect of methylation of nucleosome tails on rates of gene expression
Outline the effect of acetylation of nucleosome tails on rates of gene expression
Describe the initiation of transcription, including the role of the promoter, transcription factors, the TATA box and RNA polymerase
Describe elongation of transcription, including the role of nucleotide triphosphates and the direction of transcription
Describe termination of transcription, including the role of the terminator
List two major differences in gene expression between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells
Describe the three post-transcriptional modifications of pre-mRNA in eukaryotes
Describe the process of alternative RNA splicing
Outline an example of alternative splicing the results in different protein products
Outline the role of promoter DNA
State the effect of DNA methylation on gene expression
Compare methylation patterns in twins using superimposed images of dyed chromosomes
Define “epigenetic” and “epigenome”
Epigenetic:
Epigenome:
List types of epigenetic tags
Discuss the role of reprogramming and imprinting on epigenetic factors
Outline the process of translation initiation
Outline the process of translation elongation, including codon recognition, bond formation and translocation
State the direction of movement of the ribosome along the mRNA molecule
Outline the process of translation termination, including the role of the stop codon
State the difference between free and bound ribosomes
List destinations of proteins synthesized on free ribosomes
List destinations of proteins synthesized on bound ribosomes
Outline how a ribosome becomes bound to the endoplasmic reticulum
Compare the timing and location of transcription and translation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Describe the primary structure of a protein, including the type of bonding involved
Describe the secondary structure of a protein, including the type of bonding involved
Identify the alpha-helix and beta-pleated sheet in images of protein structure
Describe the tertiary structure of a protein, including the types of R group interactions involved
Explain how the chemical characteristics of R groups in the polypeptide chain affect protein folding
Outline the quaternary structure of protein folding
Describe the structure of a conjugated protein, including the prosthetic group
State the role of the tRNA activating enzymes
Outline the process of attaching an amino acid to tRNA by the tRNA activating enzyme
Describe the structure of the ribosomes, including the small and large subunits and the names and roles of the tRNA binding sites
Use molecular visualization software to view and identify the small and large subunit and tRNA binding sites of the ribosome
Outline the structure of tRNA molecules
Use molecular visualization software to view and identify the anticodon and amino acid binding site of a tRNA
Outline the structure of a polysome
Identify the beginning of an mRNA strand in a micrograph of polysomes
Define “bioinformatics”
Outline why computers are necessary for genome analysis
List seven species for which the entire genome has been sequenced
