Topic 5 Flashcards
In DNA, what nucleotides bind to each other?
A-T
G-C
Describe the structure of the DNA backbone.
Ribose sugar and Phosphate
Asymmetrical structure
5’ to 3’ from carbons to sugars
Affects replication and transcription
Why are DNA strands written 5’ to 3’?
Because DNA/RNA are synthesized from the 5’ end
What is the central dogma?
The central dogma of molecular biology is a theory stating that genetic information flows only in one direction, from DNA, to RNA, to protein, or RNA directly to protein.
[DNA]==transcription==>[RNA]==translation==>[amino acid chain]==folding==>[protein]
How does RNA differ from DNA?
(1) The nucleotides used (U vs T)
(2) the sugar used (ribose vs deoxyribose)
(3) their function (various vs data storage)
(4) their state (single vs double stranded)
Compare pyrimidines and purines.
Pyrimidine ribonucleotides: Cytosine and Uracil (thymine opposite)
Purine ribonucleotides: Adenosine and Guanosine
What are some of RNA molecules’ involvement in the central dogma?
Coding:
Messenger RNAs (mRNAs)– carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes
Non-coding:
Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs)– structural components of spliceosomes
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs)– adaptors between amino acids and mRNA codons
Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs)– structural and catalytic components of ribosomes
Micro RNAs (miRNAs)– short single-stranded RNAs that block expression of complementary mRNAs
What is the transcription bubble?
Comprised of:
- connection of RNA and DNA template strand
- RNA polymerase
- locally unwound segment of DNA
Summarize the process of transcription.
(1) DNA is unwound
(2) RNA is synthesized following DNA sequence by RNA polymerase 5’ to 3’
(3) DNA rewinds
(4) mRNA is released
On DNA, which strand is coding and which is non-coding?
5’ to 3’: nontemplate coding strand
3’ to 5’: template noncoding strand
RNA is complementary to the ________ strand, except U in the place of T. RNA is synthesized off the _____________ strand.
RNA is identical to the _______ strand, except U in the place of T.
template; non-template; coding
True or false? Both DNA strands can serves as a template for RNA. Why?
True
The template strand can be different for different genes; both DNA strands of a chromosome serve as the template for transcription
No matter what strand is used, polymerization/synthesis always follows 5’ to 3’
Why is RNA produced by transcription of the template strand referred to as sense (+) RNA?
Because it contains the correct sequence for translation of mRNA
Why can several RNAs be transcribed from the same gene template at the same time?
Transcription of housekeeping genes happens non-stop and often involves several template loci in the genome (multiple gene copies).
Genes like ribosomal RNA genes are intensively and continuously transcribed.
Housekeeping genes (required for basic cell function) are always (constitutively) active
For example, actin
How does RNA synthesis differ from DNA synthesis?
- the precursors are ribonucleoside triphosphate (not deoxy)
- only one strand of DNA is used as a template
- RNA chains can be initiated without a primer
- uracil instead of thymine
What is RNA synthesis?
The process of synthesizing RNA from the genetic information encoded by DNA is called transcription.
- the RNA molecules will be complementary to the DNA template (antisense) strand and identical (except that uridine replaces thymidine) to the DNA coding (sense) strand
- RNA synthesis is catalyzed by RNA polymerases and ALWAYS proceeds in the 5’ to 3’ direction
Which direction is RNA formed in?
5’ to 3’
True or false? Translation copies data from DNA to RNA.
False.
Transcription copies data from DNA to RNA
Where is RNA made?
RNA is synthesized in the nucleus, transported to the cytoplasm
(1) RNA strands start in the nucleus
(2) RNA strands spread to the cytoplasm
What is RNA transcribed from?
The template strand of DNA (5’ to 3’)
How does transcription and translation differ in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus like eukaryotes so the location that the processes take place is different
Prokaryotes: mRNA made from DNA in the nucleiod, chains of amino acids are built (translation) while the transcription process is taking place
Eukaryotes: transcription process takes place within the nucleus and mRNA is transported out into the cytoplasm before translation compenses
Summarize the process of gene expression.
Enzymatic process 1: Transcription (DNA to RNA)
Enzymatic process 2: Translation (RNA to protein)
Gene expression is much simpler in prokaryotes than eukaryotes. Why is this?
Eukaryotes:
(1) gene transcription
(2) mRNA processing
- 5’ capping
- Polymerization of poly A tail
- intron splicing
(3) mRNA export
(4) escape from RNAi
(5) mRNA translation
Prokaryotes:
(1) Gene transcription
(2) mRNA translation
This is because prokaryote transcription occurs with translation
What are the three stages of transcription in prokaryotes?
(1) RNA chain initiation, where RNA polymerase binds to the DNA template strand
(2) RNA chain elongation, where mRNA is built
(3) RNA chain termination
What are the functions of the RNA polymerase subunits?
Hint: alpha, beta, omega, and sigma
Sigma (looks like an o): initiation of transcription (released after)
Alpha (looks like an a): assembly of the tetrameric core
beta (looks like a B): ribonucleoside triphosphate binding site
beta prime (B’): DNA template binding region
Omega (looks like a w): chaperone activity controls correct folding of B’
What are the stages of Transcription I?
(a) RNA polymerase binds to promoter region
What are promoters?
Promoters are composed of an orderly sequence of cis elements (short DNA sequences) that are recognized directly by the RNA polymerase sigma subunit.
Note: promoters are only present on the template strand, which ensures the proper sense mRNA is made
Compare cis and trans elements.
Cis-regulatory elements, such as promoters, enhancers, and silencers, are regions of non-coding DNA, which regulate the transcription of nearby genes. In contrast, trans-regulatory factors regulate (or modify) the expression of distant genes by combining with their target sequences
The term cis is derived from the Latin root “cis,” meaning “the same side as.” In contrast, the term trans comes from the Latin root “trans,” meaning “across from.” In molecular biology, a cis-acting (or cis-regulatory) element refers to a region of the chromosomal DNA that regulates the transcription or expression of a gene that is on the same chromosome. A trans-acting (or trans-regulatory) element, on the other hand, refers to a soluble protein that binds to the cis-acting element of a gene to control its expression. The gene that encodes the soluble trans-acting protein can reside on any chromosome, often located far away from the gene whose expression it regulates.
Transcription is initiated from a promoter sequence. Explain this in greater detail.
- Promoter sequences vary between genes, with conserved sequence regions
Where does transcription begin (after the promoter) and what type of region is this?
Transcription begins at the +1 site, located between the promoter and the ATG start codon. This is a non-coding region.
There are 2 non-coding regions of the mRNA transcript:
5’UTR before AUG and 3’UTR after stop codon
Describe the initiation of RNA chains.
(1) RNA polymerase binds directly to promoter region in DNA
(2) RNA polymerase unwinds the two DNA strands to expose a single-stranded template (this costs energy, ATP)
(3) Formation of phosphodiester bonds between the first few rubonucleotides in the nascent RNA chain
Describe elongation in transcription.
(1) RNA chain grows from 5’ to 3’
(2) RNA polymerase continues to unwind DNA; includes helicase acitivity
(3) DNA re-winding reforming hydrogen bonds between the two DNA strands
Describe the final stage of transcription: Termination.
(1) RNA polymerase decouples from DNA template, RNA strand is released
(a) Factor-dependent termination: requires a trans element (p-dependent)
(b) Intrinsic termination: required cis elements in the end of transcription (p-independent)
Describe the 4 steps of Rho (p)-dependent termination.
Describe intrinsic (p-independent) termination.
End of gene (3’) contains a GC-rich inverted repeats section followed by a Poly-A sequence
Summarize transciption and RNA processing in Eukaryotes.
Five RNA polymerases in eukaryotes (2 are plant specific)
Post-transcriptional modifications (editing) of mRNAs:
- intron splicing
- 5’ capping
- 3’ Poly-adenylation
What are the key differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription?
Prokaryotic:
One RNA polymerase
Sigma factors
Co-transcriptional translation
Simple transcript
DNA (almost naked)
Eukaryotic:
Three RNA polymerase
multi-subunit general transcription factors
spatially separated transcription and translation
processed transcript (cap, introns/exons, poly A tail)
chromatin
What special challenges make eukaryotic transcription difficult?
(1) Harder to locate promoter: genome is bigger, genes are more spaced out
(2) Transcription and translation are decoupled: different cellular compartments (nucleus and cytoplasm)
(3) Eukaryotic DNA is wrapped up around proteins: histones that need to be removed/moved away for transcription to occur
(4) Eukaryotic transcription is more complex
(a) polymerase has more subunits
(b) transcription factors are required to recruit the polymerase
(I) Polymerase alone cannot find and associate to promoters unlike in prokaryotes with Sigma
(c) there are several types of RNA polymerases
Different RNA polymerases specialize in…
subsets of gene templates
All 5 RNA polymerases require transcription factors to initiate transcription
Describe the function of RNA polymerase II
Transcribes mRNA and some functional (non-coding) RNAs
Assisted by transcription factors– protein complexes that help it recognize and initiate transcription at the promoter
Most promoters contain a TATA box:
These “TATA”-less promoters use other elements to direct RNA Polymerase II