Principles Flashcards
In what direction does DNA replication occur?
5’ to 3’ (nay exceptions!)
What enzyme unwinds DNA into a leading strand and lagging strand?
Helicase.
Other than adding new nucleotides, what function does DNA polymerase have?
3’ to 5’ exonuclease activity - “proof reading” DNA for mistakes
What is the lagging strand called. How is it different to the leading strand?
Okazaki fragments. These do not have a free 3’ end, thus, new nucleotides cannot be added to it in the same way as in the leading strand.
How are new nucleotides added to Okazaki fragments?
RNA primer (short strand of nucleic acids, synthesised by primase) is used in order for DNA polymerase to add new nucleotides in a 5’ to 3’ direction.
What is the first step called in DNA to protein synthesis? What is the product of this step (before splicing)?
Transcription. producing a Primary RNA transcript.
What is required for transcription to begin? expand.
General transcription factors (proteins) are required to bind to the promoter region of DNA. This then recruits RNA polymerase II, which also binds to the promoter region.
What occurs when RNA polymerase II binds to the promoter region of DNA?
DNA chains separate and transcription begins, one nucleotide at a time.
What direction are nucleotides added in the “Elongation” process of transcription?
5’ to 3’
Describe the “termination” step in transcription.
the RNA forms a stem loop and a Poly A tail is added to the 3’ end. (poly A tail acts as a signal for the RNA to leave the nucleus and bind to ribosomes in the cytoplasm)
what does a primary RNA transcript contain? and what step must it undergo to become a proper mRNA?
contains exons (coding regions) and introns (non-coding regions). Must undergo splicing (with spliceosome) to remove introns
What step comes after transcription? How is it initiated?
Translation. initiated by Initiation factors binding to the mRNA.
What occurs after initiation factors have bound to mRNA?
Small ribosomal sub-unit moves along mRNA (5’ to 3’) until start codon (AUG) is found. This then brings in “initiator” tRNA which joins to the start codon. Large ribosomal subunit finally joins assembly line.
What is the last step in translation called? and what is involved?
Elongation - elongation factor (EF1α).
What is the function of EF1α?
Brings in the next tRNAs to the assembly line. (translation)
what is ribosomalRNA?
RNA that combine with proteins to form ribsomes (site of protein synthesis)
what does messengerRNA do?
carries information from DNA to cytoplasm.
what is the function of transferRNA?
brings in the amino acids to be incorporated into proteins (during translation)
What is a catabolic reaction?
exergonic - negative change in free energy (energy released, occur spontaneously)
What is an anabolic reaction?
endergonic - positive change in free energy (energy absorbed, cannot occur spontaneously)
During the oxidation (catabolism) of glucose, what is released and what picks them up?
High energy electrons. picked up by electron carriers: NAD+, FAD, NADP+ (each pick up 2 electrons)
Becoming: NADH + H+
FADH2
NADPH + H+
What are the electron carriers in the oxidation of glucose called?
oxidising agents (as they gain e-)
Which two electron carriers drive oxidative phosphorylation and which one is used for gluconeogenisis?
NAD+ , FAD drive oxidative phosphorylation.
NADP+ uses its captured electrons for gluconeogenisis (glucose synthesis)
What are 4 ways in which the body uses glucose?
1) storage (glycogen, conversion to lipids)
2) Oxidation via aerobic glycolysis (into pyruvate)
3) Fermentation by anaerobic glycolysis (pyruvate into lactate)
4) Oxidation via the pentose phosphate pathway (
in what form is glucose stored in the body?
Glycogen. Conversion to lipids.
Oxidation via aerobic glycolysis produces?
Pyruvate
Fermentation by anaerobic glycolysis involves? why is this important within the body?
Pyruvate + (NADH ) + (H+) —-lactate dehydrogenase—> Lactate + (NAD+) [allows for REGENERATION of NAD+, so that it can be used in oxidative phosphorylation]
What does oxidation of glucose via pentose-phosphate-pathway produce? what is this used for?
Ribose-5-phosphate (precursor for nucleotides and DNA repair)
What are the two ways in which glucose is transported within the body?
Na+/glucose symporters (secondary active transport. energy from Na+ concentration gradient)
GLUT (glucose transporters) - facilitated diffusion. no energy required.
Define glycolysis. Where does it occur?
the initial pathway for the conversion of glucose to pyruvate. occurs in the cytosol of cytoplasm
What kind of reaction is the conversion of glucose to pyruvate called?
Substrate level phosphorylation.
What is the net gain of ATP in glycolysis?
2 ATP
Where does the Krebs/ citric acid cycle occur?
in the mitochondrial matrix.
What is the Krebs cycle?
the generation of energy (GTP) via the oxidation of Acetly-CoA
What two things are required for the metabolism of pyruvate to Aceteyl-CoA?
NAD+ required to pick up electrons.
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
In the Krebs cycle, 2 carbon atoms are uptaken and 2 carbon atoms released. what form do these take?
uptaken carbon = Acetly-CoA
released carbon = CO2
What does the last stage (stage 3) in the metabolism of glucose involve?
Oxidative phosphorylation.
what is involved in the “electron transport chain”?
electrons flow from NADH and FADH2 to reduce O2 into H2O in the cristae of the mitochondrial matrix. the energy produced from this flow of electrons is then used to pupm protons from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space.
What pumps the protons from the cristae of the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space?
Complex I, III and IV. (complex II does not pump protons)
What is the electron transport potential? What is it used for?
The electron transport potential is the energy produced when the protons flow back across the innermembrane bak into the mitochondrial matrix, following their concentration gradient.