transcription Flashcards
what is transcription?
the process in which DNA is transcribed and an mRNA molecule is produced
where does transcription happen?
in the nucleus of the cell
what is the first stage of transcription?
part of the DNA molecule will unwind via the helicase enzyme (the hydrogen bonds between the complementary base pairings will break)
what does the partial unwindining of the double helix allow for?
the EXPOSED gene can be transcribed
what are the two unwound strands of DNA referred to as?
the antisense strand
what does RNA polymerase do?
this enzyme will transcribe the mRNA by reading the nucleotides on the unwound DNA strand
what do the free nucleotides have a role of in transcription?
these free nucleotides will get recruited by the RNA polymerase and pair up with the exposed bases on the unwound DNA strand by complementary base pairing
what bonds join the complementary base pairings?
hydrogen or phosphodiester bonds
what way does RNA polymerase move along the template strand?
3’ to 5’ direction
what happens after the gene has been transcribed?
the hydrogen bonds between the mRNA and DNA strands break to reform the double-stranded DNA molecule
how does the mRNA molecule leave the nucleus?
via a nuclear pore in the nuclear envelope
in what way does the mRNA molecule grow in?
5’ to 3’ direction
what is the template strand?
the DNA strand in which RNA nucleotides have baired with the bases on this strand and therefore is responsible for producing the mRNA molecule
what is the name of the other strand?
the coding strand
