Part 2 Flashcards
How do changes in gene expression underlie the diversity of cell types in the body?
1.All cells have same content but different set of proteins
diversity from gene expression
2.change expression due to signals and cues in environment
3.Cells express a fraction of their genes
4.express different genes when in disease state
What affects the levels of expression?
The level of transcription
Less transcription= fewer expressed
Where do positively charged binding DNA proteins reach?
They reach the into the major groove
+ve (R +L aminoacids) allow the protein to stick to the negatively charged phosphate backbone
What is a DNA binding site?
Stretch of DNA unlike proteins, DNA has a limited topology
How do TF recognise short stretches of DNA?
Through interactions with individual base pairs
H bond in the major groove
Example of binding to DNA
Rox1 is known to bind 8 sites in yeast genes
Different sites have different affinity for the protein- consensus and frequency at each position
Helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif
The recognition helix inserts into the major groove to make specific contacts
helix turn helix proteins tend to bind as dimers to 2 consecutive major groove
DNA recognition site is palindromic
Zinc finger DNA binding motif
4 aa hold the zinc atom
An alpha helix recognises 2 bases
Leucine zipper DNA binding motif
The alpha helical monomers are held together by hydrophobic aa
Homodimers bind symmetrical sequences
Heterodrimers bind non-identical sequences
How is helix loop helix related to the leucine zipper?
Loop enables more felxibility
many DNA binding proteins bind as dimers cooperatively dramatically increases binding strength
TF are molecular- DNA binding domain, protein binding domain, regulatory domain, activation domain
DNAse I footprinting
- radioactively label one end of the DNA
- Mix with cell extract (or purified protein)
- Add DNAse to partially digest the DNA
- Heat sample to destroy the DNAse ad release the binding proteins
- Run samples by gel electrophoresis
What can DNA footprinting be used to identify?
Where a protein binds on a sequence of DNA
See the region of DNA protected from digestion by binding protein
Electrophoretic mobility shift assay
- Radioactivity label of one end of the DNA
- Mix the cell extract (or purified protein)
- Run samples by gel electrophoresis
What are the 3 forms transcription factors come in?
- Permissive- General TF are necessary for all transcription, bind at promoter
- Specific
- Regulatory
- activator= increase transcription of neighbouring genes
- repressor= reduce transcription of neighbouring genes
How do regulatory transcription factors function?
Interactions with the RNA polyermase complex
Altering acetylation of the DNA
Binding to other transcription factors
Bind anywhere around the gene
Why does DNA play an important role in forming DNA/protein complexes?
Chromatin does not easily bend so it is thought that for 2 proteins to interact they need to bind directly neighbouring
DNA sequences or to sites that are >500bp apart
What are insulating barriers?
Block regulatory sequences from affecting neighbouring genes
What are enhancers and silencers?
Enhancers= binding site for transcriptional activators Silencers= binding site for transcriptional repressors
Genetic switch
Inputs that alter gene expression- strong inhitbiting protein, strongly activating assembly, weakly activating protein assembly
Each switch is responding to extrinsic or intrinsic regulation
eg. typtophan= repressor protein represses genes required to typtophan synthesis
What are the many ways to regulate TF?
- Protein synthesis
- Ligand binding
- Protein phosphorylation
- Addition of 2nd subunit
- Unmasking
- Stimulation of nuclear entry
- Release from membrane
Why do TF interact with each other?
Prevents them from falling off the DNA
Each protein needs to lose 2 interactions to fall off of the DNA
Binding of one TF to DNA may allow ANOTHER TF to bind to DNA
Ways TF regulate the transcription of TF
- positive feedback
- negative feedback
- flip-flop device- inhibit each other (2)
- feedforward loop- miss one and activate the one ahead
Key concepts
- gene control in the expression of precise decision so that the proper gene is expressed in the proper cell at the proper time
- The main mode of protein expression control is at the level of transcriptional initiation
- Regulatory sequence are numerous and diverse
- Transcriptional activators exert their effect either directly (recruiting components) or indirectly (modulating chromatin structure)
How does alignment of genes show closely related species
Can identify conserved sequences of motifs
Often turns out to be the binding sites for regulatory proteins
Non-coding stretches of DNA change rapidly during evolution- coding sequence= conserved
TF interact with each other
- Competitive DNA binding binding site for activator and repressor
- Masking the activation surface
Activators are modular proteins, Example is
S.cerevisiae Gal1 gene- essential for the metabolism of galactose and is activated via the binding of Gal4 protein to the Vas regulatory sequence
*Upstream activating sequence
Epienetics
Study of changes caused by modification of gene expression rather than genetic code
Genetic alterations to DNA sequence can permanently affect gene expression whereas epigenetic changes to chromatin structure can also modulate gene expression but DO NOT alter the sequence and are REVERSIBLE
What is the difference between genetic inheritance and epigenetic inheritance?
Genetic inheritance- Gene x on- 1. DNA sequence change, turns gene x OFF- 2. multiplication of somatic cells- 3. production of germ cells- gene X still OFF
Epigenetic inheritance- Gene y on- 1. Chromatin change- gene y OFF- multiplication of somatic cells- 3. production of germ cells- Gene y ON
What do epigenetic modifications facilitate?
Stable changes to gene expression which may persist for life of cell/organism
Can be erased in germ line
What is an epigenetic landscape?
Different cell fates during development are the result of distinct journeys through this
What are nucleosomes?
a structural unit of a eukaryotic chromosome, consisting of a length of DNA coiled around a core of histones.
= Building blocks of chromatin
= covalently modified- these structural changes to chromatin affect gene transcription
How are covalent modifcations added to the core histones?
The N terminal lysine rich tails of core histones project radially from the nucleosomal core and are covalently modified
Variety of modifications added to the core within chromatin
The key modifications
- Lysine actelyation
- Lysine/arginine methylation- monomethyl, dimethyl and trimethyl lysine added to N terminals
- phosphorylation
*Methylation and acetylation both occur on lysine-add lysine chains to lysine
Difference between HATs and HMTs
-Histone acetyltransferases
Can modify different lysine residues in core histones
-Histone myethltransferases
Exhibit exquiste site specificites- “Histone code” writers
Methylation and acteylation of some lysines are mutually exclusive (distinct reesidues mediated by different enzymes/regulationsand perception by cell machinery= selective)`
Effects on gene expression from Lysine/arginine methylation and acetlyation
H3-k4= active
H3-k9=Inactive
H3-k27=inactive
H3-R17=Active
Reversible- Histone dimethylases
Effects on gene expression from lysine acetylation
Many lysine in H2A,H3,H4= ALL active
What does the reversiblity of these modifcations mean?
That although relatively stable, if the correct signals are received then gene expression states can be changed
Acetylation of histones creates binding sites for transcriptional activation
Factors that contain bromodomain- an epigenetic code reader
Mapping shows acetylation associated primarily with transcriptionally active promoter sequences
What can methylation of core histones create binding sites for?
Transcriptional repressors that contain a chromodomain
or
Transcriptional activators that contain a PHD zinc finger domain
Depends on the particular lysine amine acid residue modified methylation of core histones
Different histone modifications are distinct elements of transcriptional regulatory code
An epigenetic code that lies on top of the genetic code
Governs when and where genetic info is exposed
How do transcription activator proteins work for chromatin?
- Selective nucleosome remodelling
- Selective histone removal- transcription is general TF mediator and RNA polyermase
- Selective histone replacement
- Selective histone modification- Recruitment of code writers and readers
Activator proteins induce combination of all these effects-promote RNA polyermase 2 recruitment
How doe transcription repressor proteins work in chromatin?
- Competitive DNA binding
- Masking the activation surface
- Direct interaction with general TF
- Recruitment of chromatin remodelling complexes
- Recruitment of histone deactylases
- Recruitment of histone methyl transferase histone deactylases (proteins that bind to methylated histones)
What is the polycomb group of proteins?
Polycomb repressive complexes, PRC
Include proteins that can generate or recognise regressive chromatin modifcations- A histone code writing or reading system
H3-k27 methylation mediated by enhancer of zeste (component of prc2)
2 Protein polycomb complexes
PRC2 - makes the mark - triggers transcriptional repression
PRC1 - recognises the mark - maintains repressed state
Histone code reading and writing
H3-k27 methylation mediated by enhancer of zeste (component of prc2)(code writer)
Recruits Prc1 via polycomb chromodomain (code reader)
Formation of silent, repressed heterochromatin
Close relationships between transcriptionally repressive histone methylation and DNA methylation
Transcriptionally inactive promoters frequently rich inmethylated CPG
dinucleotudes- 5- methylcytosine
Addition of methyl groups to cytosine residues is mediated by DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs)