Section 3 - Genome Control and Gene Expression Flashcards
What is the central question of genome control?
How do I select particular DNA for gene expression?
What is the challenge with transmission of information (DNA -> RNA -> protein)?
Want it to be reliable, but don’t want to mess up DNA (wear)
What is the differences between different cells (in terms of gene expression)?
Different cells read different genes (different euchromatin) to get different protein products
True or false: the genome is organized cohesively
False: it has a disruptive organization
What is the organization of the genome?
Small bits of coding DNA are interspersed with large sections of noncoding DNA
True or false: proteins that work together are usually coded together
False: proteins coded together typically have dissimilar functions
What is the difference between mammallian genomes and bacterial genomes (based on gene expression)?
Similar bacterial proteins can all be transcribed under one promoter, while similar mammalian proteins are all over the genome
When can RNA be the final product (in terms of the central dogma)?
RNA can act as enzymes (gain catalytic activity by folding)
What is transcription?
DNA -> RNA
What step is DNA -> RNA?
Transcription
What is translation?
RNA -> protein
What step is RNA -> protein?
Translation
What does RNA formation rate depend on?
Cell regulation, promotors, etc.
What does the RNA formation rate (partially) dictate?
The amount of protein produced
What is the most common way to control protein production?
Through RNA
Why is RNA the most common way to control protein production?
It is transient and degradable
True or false: all RNA makes the same amount of protein
False: there are various controls that regulate the amount of protein
True or false: if there is higher production of a protein A (compared to another protein B), then protein A is more important
False: there could be other reasons (stability, toxicity, efficiency, etc.) for why A is produced more than B
What describes different levels of proteins in the cell?
The controls in place (tune processes to get result) at every stage
What is the first step in making a protein?
Transcription (DNA is transcribed into RNA)
What is RNA?
A linear polymer made of four different nucleotide subunits
What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
RNA has uracil (DNA has thymine), and RNA has ribose (DNA has deoxyribose)
What is the difference between ribose and deoxyribose?
Ribose has an OH group on the 2’ carbon, while deoxyribose has an H
What base is uracil most similar to?
Thymine