Mar 18, 2025 Intro To Gene Regulation

Gene Expression

The process of transcription and translation of a gene.

Regulation of Gene Expression

The ability of a cell to control how, when, where, or if a particular gene in the DNA is expressed.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of converting messenger RNA into a protein.

Epigenetic Regulation

Regulation that makes DNA sequences more or less accessible for transcription.

Transcriptional Level Regulation

Gene regulation that occurs at the level of transcription.

Post-Transcriptional Level Regulation

Regulation that includes mRNA processing and stability, affecting how mRNA is translated.

Translational Level Regulation

Regulation of whether the initiation complex can assemble for translation.

Post-Translational Level Regulation

Regulation regarding how proteins are processed, affecting their activity and function.

Positive Regulation

When transcription is stimulated or turned on.

Negative Regulation

When transcription is repressed or turned off.

Operon

A set of multiple bacterial genes that are regulated together and transcribed into a single mRNA.

lac Operon

A classical model for understanding transcriptional regulation in E. coli, in response to lactose.

Activators

Proteins that bind to a site near a gene's promoter to help initiate transcription.

Repressors

Proteins that bind to an operator sequence near a gene to inhibit transcription.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

Operator

A DNA sequence that repressor proteins bind to, blocking RNA polymerase from transcribing the gene.

Promoter

A DNA sequence that initiates the transcription of a particular gene.

Transcriptional Regulation

The control of the rate of transcription of genetic information.

mRNA Stability

Factors that affect the lifespan and translational efficiency of mRNA.

Lactose Metabolism

The breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactose, facilitated by enzymes coded by lac operon genes.

lacZ

The gene in the lac operon that codes for B-galactosidase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose.

lacY

The gene in the lac operon that codes for lactose permease, a protein that transports lactose into the cell.

Functional Gene Products

Proteins produced from expressed genes that perform various cellular functions.

Environmental Flexibility

The ability of cells to adapt their gene expression in response to environmental changes.

Transcription Initiation Complex

The assembly of proteins at the promoter necessary for the initiation of transcription.