Slide 2 Flashcards
What is the study of molecular genetics?
how genes turn on and off and how they affect phenotype
Who is the person who discovered DNA as a double helix?
Rosalind Franklin
What is the process of transcription?
- DNA is unwound by DNA helicase
- RNA polymerase binds and recognizes start site
- RNA nucleotides (Uracil NOT thymine) base pair with DNA
- form a chain of mRNA
What are transcription factors?
proteins that assist RNA polymerase to regnozie promoters (which activates the gene)
What are the two divisions of transcription factors?
- gene specific transcription factors: activate specific genes like estrogen receptor = estrogen target gene specific
- general transcription factors: can activate all genes, bind to DNA regions within promoters and deliver RNA polymerase to their respective promoter sites.
eg. CREM is a general transcription?
What is alternative splicing?
- mRNA processing
- enzymes clip out segments of middle or ends from the mRNA strand
- exons are expressed (segment that contains the encoding proteins)
- also contain noncoding segments called introns
What are the three types of RNA?
mRNA (messenger), rRNA(ribosomal), tRNA (transfer)
Where is mRNA processed and what does it do in the modifications?
in the nucleus (after it’s been made)
- edits mRNA
- removes introns
- adds poly A tail
- adds guanine cap
After processing, where does the mRNA go?
enters he cytosol where it works with rRNA (ribosome) and tRNA to direct translation
What do tRNA molecules do?
- transfer specific amino acids (via the process of anti codons) to the mRNA which is read in triplets at the ribosome
- as amino acids are brought into place, peptide bonds join the growing chain of polypeptide
What is the structure of rRNA and where mRNA fits within the structure?
- made of a large and small rRNA subunit
- interacts with tRNA during translation
- mRNA can be found between the 2 subunits
- rRNA has enzymes that makes a peptide bond between new amino acids being added
What happens during the processing of the protein?
- chaperone molecules supervise protein folding
- other enzymes in cytosol, ER and Golgi helpt polypeptide fold and combine into larger protein molecules or hybrids (like hormones)
What is a proteome?
- all the protein synthesized by the cell
- all proteins synthesized in the whole body are collectively called human proteome
What are some chemical post-translational modifications?
Mainly the addition of:
- sugars
- lipids
- methyl group (CH3)
- phosphate
Describe the process of synthesis: DNA to protein.
- activate gene (constitutively active or regulated activity-either induction or repression)
- transcription (to mRNA)
- mRNA processing (alternative splicing or siRNA - interference - mRNA is “silenced”)
- translation (in rRNA with tRNA bringing in amino acids to make an aa chain -polypeptide)
- post translational modification (includes folding + cross-links, cleavage into smaller peptides, addition of groups and assembly into polymeric proteins)
What is tonicity?
how a solution affects cell volume if the cell were placed in the solution (volume change of a cell)
Describe the distribution of solutes at homeostasis?
Na+: out K+: in cell Cl-: out HCO3-: out Large anions + protein: in cell
What are the three ways of membrane bound vesicle transport?
endocytosis
exocytosis
phagocytosis
Describe how primary active transport leads to secondary transport?
primary transport: uses ATP like a Na/K pump
secondary transport: uses the concentration gradient setup (by primary transport) to transport other molecules against their concentration gradient
How does passive process of diffusion work? (changes in size, temperature and distance)
- uses kinetic energy already in molecule
- net movement until concentration is equal
- high to low
- rapid over short distances
- directly related to temperature
- inversely related to molecular size
How is the rate of diffusion faster through a membrane?
- larger surface area of membrane
- thinner membrane
- larger concentration gradient
- molecule’s permeability through membrane