Nucleic Acids: Chemistry, Structure, Organization & Replication Flashcards
DnaA
Binds to OriC (DnaA binding site), initiates replication in bacteria
DnaB
Hexamer of these creates DNA helicase (ATP driven unwinding of DNA in DNA replication in bacteria). Binds to primases which makes the RNA primers.
DnaC
Helicase loader in DNA replication in bacteria
Primase
Makes the RNA primers for leading and lagging strand
Topoisomerase
Type I - adds twist, increases Lk by 1. Relaxes neg. supercoiling.
Type II - cuts dsDNA, writhe decreases by 2. Lk changes by 2. Requires ATP. Can either relieve or introduce supercoiling.
DNA Pol III holoenzyme
Three cores, flexible linkers that link cores to sliding clamp loader + sliding clamp
Sliding Clamp Loader
Loads sliding clamps onto DNA at primer:template junctions
Sliding clamp
Big enough space in the middle for dsDNA -> unstable for ssDNA or RNA. Increases the processivity of DNA pol + holds it in the right position
DNA polymerase regions
Palm - catalytic site for adding base, proofreading site and exonuclease site
Finger - changes conformation when right base is in catalytic site so no more bases can come in until it is added. Stabilize beta,gamma P
Thumb - Responsible for placement of primer:template junction, proofreading activity?
Mechanism of topo-I
Tyrosine (-OH) in active site attacks phosphodiester bond -> generates break. Topo joined to 5’ end phosphatase. 3’ end with free -OH group. tyrosine - pi linkage provides high energy bond needed for nucleophilic attack.
DNA ligase mechanism
Ligase creates a high
energy bond by fusing AMP
to the 5’-Phosphate.
Then 3’OH of the next
Okazaki fragment attacks
this bond, thereby forming
a phosphodiester bond
between the two. AMP is
released in the reaction.
DNA pol I function
5’ exonuclease activity. DNA repair and RNA primer excision.
DNA pol II function
DNA repair probs
DNA pol III function
Main DNA synthase
Alpha polymerase function
Initial extension of DNA, RNA primers
Polymerase Beta function
DNA repair (Base Excision Repair)
Polymerase Delta function
Lagging strand synthesis; DNA repair (both NER and BER)
Polymerase epsilon function
Leading strand syntheses; DNA repair (NER & BER)
Which amino acids are positively charged/basic at physiological pH and what does this mean?
Arginine, Histidine, Lysine. Wants to bind H
Which amino acids are negatively charged/acidic at physiological pH and what does this mean?
aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu). Looses H at ph=7
Polar, uncharged amino acids
serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), cysteine (Cys), asparagine (Asn), and glutamine (Gln)
Nonpolar, hydrophobic amino acids
glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), valine (Val), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), proline (Pro), methionine (Met), and phenylalanine (Phe).