Transcription, RNA Processing, Gene Regulation, and Epigenetics Flashcards
Besides the change between T and U, the RNA product should be identical to the
DNA Coding strand
The unit of prokaryotic RNA Polymerase that associates with the core enzyme to generate the holoenzyme
σ subunit
What are the three stages of transcription?
- ) Initiation
- ) Elongation
- ) Termination
Initiation is dependent on what two thing?
- ) σ subunit binding RNA polymerase (making holoenzyme)
2. ) Holo-RNA Polymerase binds promoter
What is the principal site for regulation of transcription?
Initiation
What initiates the elongation step?
σ dissociates from RNA polymerase and the promoter
Transcript is lengthened by the addition of nucleotides to the 3’ end of the RNA strand located in the active site of RNA Polymerase II
Elongation
What happens during termination?
- ) RNA synthesis stops
- ) RNA transcript is released
- ) Dissociation of RNA polymerase from DNA template
What are the two sequences within the prokaryotic promoter region that are recognized by the RNA polymerase holoenzyme?
-35 sequence (TTGACA) and Pribnow box (TATAAT)
Located ~7 base pairs upstream of the start of transcription
Pribnow box (TATAAT)
What is the distance between the -35 sequence and the Pribnow box?
19 bp
Can make DNA from RNA
Reverse transcriptase
Is translation reversible?
No
How many different RNA polymerases are there for
- ) Prokaryotic transcription
- ) Eukaryotic transcription
- ) One
2. ) Three (with a 4th that functions in mitochondrial transcription)
The structural and catalytic component of ribosomes
rRNA
rRNA comprises about
80% of cellular RNA
The ribosome includes four different rRNAs that are typically designated by their sedimentation coefficients. For example, in human cells, there is
5S, 5.8S, 18S, and 28S
Functions as an “adaptor” molecule that delivers amino acids to the ribosome
-about 15% of cellular RNA
t-RNA
The template for protein synthesis, and is heterogeneous in size, varying according to the length of the encoded protein
-typically represents less than 5% of total RNA content
mRNA
small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are involved in
DNA splicing
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) function in
rRNA processing
microRNAs play important roles in
Regulation of gene expression
A cluster of genes encoding proteins involved in sugar utilization
lac operon
What type of reaction is the polymerization that forms RNA?
Nucleophilic attack by 3’ OH of growing strand on α-phosphate of incoming NTP (leaving group is pyrophosphate [PPi])
In contrast to DNA replication, RNA transcription does not require a
Primer
The core enzyme RNA polymerase is catalytically active but unable to recognize specific promoter DNA sequences until
σ subunit binds
Although they have only one core RNA polymerase, bacteria have several
σ subunits
What gets rid of the positive supercoils generated in the DNA by RNA polymerase during transcription?
DNA gyrase
What gets rid of the negative supercoils generated in DNA by RNA polymerase during transcription?
Topoisomerase I
What is the actual site of transcription initiation?
+1
Transcription is regulated primarily at the level of
Initiation
Either recruit RNA polymerase to the promoter, or stabilize its binding to promoter DNA
Transcriptional activators
Block RNA polymerases interaction with DNA
Transcriptional repressors
Transcription termination signals are present at the ends of genes, but function at the
RNA level
What are the two classes of bacterial terminators?
- ) Rho-dependent
2. ) Rho-independent
Binds a specific RNA sequence as a hexameric protein and contacts RNA polymerase, signalling the polymerase to terminate transcription and dissociate from the DNA template
Rho
RNA hairpin structures generated by palindromic repeats followed by a U rich region
Rho independent terminator
In the case of rho-independent termination, a specific structure (stem and loop) forms in the RNA transcript, signalling
Termination
Binds the β subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase and inhibits initiation
Rifampicin
Rifampicin is an effective antibiotic for treatment of certain
Bacterial infections (ex: tuberculosis)
Binds the DNA template, intercalating between neighboring base pairs
Actinomycin
Actinomycin blocks
Transcript elongation
The DNA structure that binds actinomycin is conserved between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. As a result, actinomycin serves as an effective therapeutic for treatment of some
Cancers
Actinomycin binds the
DNA phenoxazone ring
The core promoter region of eukaryotic class II genes typically (but not always) contains a
-located about 25 bp upstream of the transcription start site (+1)
TATA box
The “nucleation site” for assembly of a transcription complex that includes a set of general transcription factors (GTFs) and RNA polymerase II and is functionally comparable to the –10 and –35 regions of a bacterial promoter.
TATA box
Transcriptional stimulatory sequences are generally located upstream of the core promoter in eukaryotes and include
Promoter proximal elements and enhancer sequences
Promoter proximal elements are usually located within 120 bp of the transcription start site and serve as binding sites for transcriptional activators of
-Ex: enzymes involved in metabolism
Ubiquitously expressed genes (“housekeeping genes”)
The most well characterized activator that functions at a proximal promoter is called
SP1
Found at variable distances from the core promoter and are DNA sequences that bind specific transcriptional activators
Enhancers
Binding sites for transcriptional activators that either make direct contact components of the RNA polymerase II transcriptional machinery, or recruit chromatin remodeling complexes to the regulatory promoter regions
Enhancers
What do RNA Polymerases I, II, and III transcribe?
RNA Polymerase I = rRNA
RNA Polymerase II = mRNA
RNA Polymerase III = 5s component of ribosome, tRNA, and certain snRNAs
Eukaryotic RNA polymerases do not recognize Specific DNA sequences on their own. Instead, promoter recognition requires
General transcription factors (GTFs)
A general transcription factor which includes TATA binding protein
TFIID
Required to position RNA Polymerase II at the promoter
GTFs
Structurally similar to prokaryotic RNA polymerase
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase II
As a subunit of the larger TFIID complex, binds the TATA element and confers a sharp bend in the promoter DNA.
TATA binding protein (TBP)
Explain the process of RNA polymerase II binding
TBP (as TFIID) binds the TATA box, enabling TFIIB to bind, which enables RNA polymerase II and TFIIF to bind
Once RNA polymerase II is bound to DNA, enable RNA polymerase to start transcription
TFIIE and TFIIH
Stimulate transcription by binding GTFs, either to recruit or stabilize their binding to the core promoter
Transcriptional activators
There are two notable features of eukaryotic RNA pol II transcription that do not occur either in bacteria or by RNA pol I or RNA pol III. These are
Addition of 5’ cap and 3’-poly(A) tail
A 7-methylguanosine “CAP” is covalently linked to the 5’-end of mRNA by a unique 5’ → 5’ triphosphate linkage. The CAP is not encoded by the DNA template. Instead, CAP is added to the mRNA shortly after
Initiation