Transcription Flashcards
What is transcription?
Synthesis of RNA from DNA
What stores the genetic information?
Coding (sense) strand
What is a Antisense strand?
Non Coding (antisense) strand - template
RNA is synthesised from?
the Antisense strand
Is primer needed in transcription?
no
What is the functional unit of DNA?
The transcription unit (TU)
What regions does the Transcription Unit (TU) compose of?
- (1) promoter: regulatory function
- (2) RNA coding region
Where is the Transcription start site?
Located between promoter and RNA coding region -> transcription starts form this point
What is the “Upstream” direction?
= from the start site towards promoter (“left”), bases found here get numbers minus 1,2 etc. when moving away from the start site.
What is the “Downstream” direction?
= from the start site towards RNA coding region (“right”), bases found here get numbers flus 1, 2 etc. whn moving away from start site.
What main things does the transcritpion unit compose of?
- Transcription start site
- upstream
- downstream
What is responsible for the regulation of transcription?
the Promoter
What are the most important consensus sequences of promoter regions?
- TATA-box
- GC-box
- CAP - cAMP binding site
What is TATA-box?
It is an important consensys sequence of the promoter region.
- Called Pribnow-box in Prokaryotes
- Rich in T and A bases
- RNA polymerase binds tightly to this box
What is GC-box?
It is an important consensys sequence of the promoter region.
- Rich in G and C bases
- RNA polymerase binds loosely to this box
What is CAP-cAMP binding site?
It is an important consensys sequence of the promoter region.
- Only in prokaryotes
- Binding of CAP-cAMP-complex -> one of the prerequisites of transcritpion
Such DNa sequence which is coding one functional unit?
Gene,/structure gene
What is polycistronic transcription unit?
One transcription is composed of several genes (only in prkaryotes)
What is monocistrnic transcription unit?
One transcription unit is composed of one gene (only in eukaryotes)
What can be found inside the genes of Eukaryotes?
Introns and exons
What is Introns?
can be found in pre-mRNA (primary transcript) only -> they are cut out -> Mature mRNA contains no intron
What are Exons?
mature mRNA contains exons only
What is the termination signal?
transcription finishes here
What is translation?
mRNA transports genetc information from DNA to the protein synthesis
What are the phases of transcription of mRNA of prokaryotes?
- Initiation
- Elongation
- Termination
What is the function of the RNA polymerase in Prokaryotes?
Catalyses transcription of all types of RNA
RNA polymerase + sigma factor =
RNA polymerase holoenzyme -> specific affinity of the enzyme to the promoter -> holoenzyme binds tightly to TATA (pribnow) and loosely to GC-box of promoter
What is RNA polymerase holoenzyme?
specific affinity of the enzyme to the promoter -> holoenzyme binds tightly to TATA (pribnow) and loosely to GC-box of promoter
What is necessary for the initiation of transcription in Prokaryotes?
Binding of CAP- cAMP complex to the binding site on the promoter
Elongation of transcription of Prokaryotes happens when?
Signa factor is released from RNA polymerase
The RNA polymerase builds nucleotides into?
mRNA chain -> mRNA is being synthesised in the 5´to 3´direction
What are the possibilites of termination in Prokaryotes?
- Pho(p) factor independent termination
- Pho(p) factor dependent termination
What is Pho(p) factor independent termination?
- A region rich in G anc C bases can be found on the mRNA at the region of termination signal.
- H-bonds formed between the G and C bases destabilise DNA-RNA complex -> DNa chain, mRNA and RNA polymerase dissociate
What is Pho(p) factor dependent termination?
- G-C rich region slows down mRNa synthesis
- The so called rho(p) factor follows RNa polymerase enzyme during transcription
- Pho-p factor reaches RNA polymerase when it is slowed down and catalyses dissociaten of DNA chain, mRNA and RNa polymerase
- ATP is needed