Lecture 24 pt 2 Eukaryotic Gene Regulation Part 2

Flashcards covering Eukaryotic Gene Regulation Part 2, focusing on transcription initiation, gene structure comparisons, and the roles of control elements and activator proteins in gene expression.

Eukaryotic Gene Arrangement

Arrangement where genes are transcribed and translated independently, each with its own promoter; genes for the same regulated process can be on different chromosomes.

Prokaryotic Gene Arrangement (Operon)

Arrangement where sets of genes that need to be co-regulated share a promoter and are transcribed into one long mRNA molecule (polycistronic mRNA).

Introns

Non-coding sequences within a gene that are removed during RNA processing.

Exons

Coding regions of a gene that are expressed and retained after RNA processing.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme that performs transcription by binding to the promoter region of a gene.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that bind to the promoter region and help RNA polymerase bind to initiate transcription.

Control Elements

DNA sequences upstream of the promoter where activator or repressor proteins bind to regulate transcription.

Activator Proteins

Proteins that bind to control elements to activate or help switch on a gene.

Enhancer

A group of control elements that enhance transcription.

Cytoplasmic Determinants

Regulatory proteins that bind to upstream regions of genes and switch certain genes on, often with asymmetric distribution in egg cells.

Differential Gene Expression

A sophisticated system where different cell types have different activator proteins that bind to specific control elements, switching on genes required in those cell types.

Coordinately Controlled Genes

Genes with related functions that are switched on or off together in eukaryotes due to having common sets of control elements or enhancers.