RNA Synthesis, Processing & Regulation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to RNA synthesis, processing, and regulation as described in the lecture notes.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA during transcription.

Sigma factor (σ)

A protein that helps RNA polymerase bind to the promoter region of DNA.

Promoter

The sequence of DNA where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Lac operon

A model system for understanding gene regulation in prokaryotes, particularly in response to lactose.

Operator

A region of DNA that a repressor protein binds to, inhibiting transcription.

Inducer

A molecule that binds to a repressor protein to change its shape and activity, enabling transcription.

CAP activator

A protein that increases transcription in low glucose conditions.

Termination

The process by which transcription stops, which can be Rho-dependent or Rho-independent.

General Transcription Factors (GTFs)

Proteins required for RNA polymerase binding and formation of the pre-initiation complex.

Enhancers

DNA elements that can increase transcription from a distance, working through DNA looping.

Alternative Splicing

The process by which different proteins are produced from a single gene by splicing variations.

Epigenetic Regulation

Modification of gene activity without changing the DNA sequence, involving factors like histone modification.

DNA Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to DNA, typically silencing gene expression.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies an amino acid.

tRNA Structure

The structure that includes an anticodon loop and an acceptor stem to bring amino acids to the ribosome.

Ribosome

Molecular machines that facilitate translation of mRNA into proteins.

Translation initiation

The process of starting protein synthesis at the ribosome.

Peptide bond

The bond formed between two amino acids during protein synthesis.

Protein modifications

Post-translational modifications that alter protein structure and function after synthesis.

Secretory pathway

The process by which proteins are secreted from the cell after translation.

Endocytosis

The process of taking material into the cell by engulfing it in a vesicle.