L18 Control of gene expression

Transcription

The process of making messenger RNA (mRNA) from a DNA template.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where it is translated into protein.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, typically a protein.

Transcription factors

Proteins that bind to DNA and help regulate the transcription of specific genes.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes.

Introns

Non-coding sequences of DNA that are removed from the mRNA transcript during RNA processing.

Enhancers

Regulatory DNA sequences that can increase transcription levels of specific genes.

Chromatin structure

The organization of DNA and proteins in the nucleus that affects gene expression.

Differential gene expression

The process by which different cell types express different combinations of genes.

Constitutively expressed genes

Genes that are continuously expressed and have a constant level of activity.

Operons

Gene clusters in bacteria that are transcribed together and regulated as a single unit.

Silencers

DNA elements that repress transcription of specific genes.

Proteasome

A complex that degrades unneeded, damaged, or misfolded proteins by proteolysis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)

Small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to mRNA.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.

Transcriptional activators

Proteins that increase gene expression by facilitating the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter.

Alternative splicing

A process that allows a single gene to produce multiple protein isoforms by varying the combination of exons included in the final mRNA.

Stem cells

Undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into different cell types.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

Adult cells that have been reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state.

Reporter constructs

Genetic constructs used to study gene expression by linking a gene of interest to a measurable marker.

Basal level of transcription

The minimal level of transcription that occurs in the absence of regulatory elements.

Ubiquitin

A small protein that tags other proteins for degradation in the proteasome.