The Scientific Method Flashcards
In proteomics, what enzyme is used to digest proteins.
A proteolytic enzyme, trypsin
Potential mechanisms by which change at the DNA level could be involved in the activation of a specific gene
- DNA loss
- DNA amplification
- DNA rearrangement
- DNA is unchanged but is differentially expressed
The closest example of gene loss in cells
- Red blood cells lose their nucleus therefore their DNA .
- Stable mRNA remain allowing for transcription of globin and other proteins.
- Eventually these are also lost to allow the cell to fill up with hemoglobin and oxygen.
Why is the red blood cel not a great example of gene loss.
The loss of the nucleus is primarily intended to allow the cell to fill up with hemoglobin and to assume a shape allowing for oxygen uptake, rather than a means of gene control.
DNA amplification
These occur in situations where a very high level of mRNA/ protein production is required in a short time such that a single copy of a gene could not produce enough mRNA/protein.
DNA rearrangement
The deletion of of base pairs to bring differet coding sequences together to create a variety of different proteins. Also brings regulatory sequences closer to structural sequences allowing for activation and thus transcription to mRNA.
Example of Gene Loss
The loss of the nucleus and therefore DNA in red blood cells.
Examples of gene amplification
- Globin gene aplification in red blood cells before the deletion of the nucleus to make space for oxygen.
- The amplification of eggshell genes in Drosophila melanogaster.
Examples of gene rearrangement
Immunoglobulin genes are rearranged to create a variety of antibodies to protect the body.
Pulse Labeling
The synthesis of any particular RNA can be measured by adding a radioactive nucleotide to the cell and measuring how much radioactivity is incorporated into RNA specific for the gene of interest.
Problem with pulse labeling
The amount of radioactive ribonucleotide is far less than the normal ribonucleotides in the cell. This decreases the amound of radioactive ribonucleotides incorporated into the RNA. This makes it less affective.
Nuclear run on-assay
- Removable of the cytoplasm where most of the normal ribonucleotides are this will result in there not being enough ribonucleotides for transcription.
- Radioactive ribonucleotides are then inserted directly into the nucleus allowing for transcription to start again using the radioactively labeled ribonucleotides.
Polytene chromosome
Large chromosomes containing approximately 1000 DNA molecules.
In polytene chromosome the puff in the chomosome mean.
It represents the site of intense transcriptional activity.
What are the two levels the transcriptional control.
Chromatin structure: Altering the chromatin structure so that constitulively active regulatory molecules could gain access and switch on transcription.
Primary RNA transcript: activation of transcriptional regulatory proteins inducing transcription to produce the primary RNA transcription.
Length of miRNA
20-25 bases
Length of siRNA
21-24 bases
Length of piRNA
21-31 bases