Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes

Flashcards summarizing key concepts from the lecture on gene regulation.

What are some ways a eukaryotic cell can control gene expression?

Controlling transcription factors, alternatively splicing mRNA, controlling mRNA stability, and modifying proteins post-translation.

What is the function of a gene’s promoter?

It is the sequence of DNA where RNA polymerase binds and begins transcription of the gene.

What happens to the lac operon when lactose is absent?

The repressor protein binds to the operator, preventing transcription of the lac operon.

How does lactose affect the lac operon?

Lactose binds to the repressor protein, causing a conformational change that prevents it from binding to the operator, allowing transcription.

What is the concept of combinatorial control in gene expression?

It refers to how the combination of different transcription factors binding to enhancers and silencers determines whether a gene will be transcribed.

What is the role of enhancers in gene expression?

Enhancers influence when, where, and how much a promoter and the associated gene is active.

What is a silencer in gene regulation?

A sequence of DNA that binds a repressor, inhibiting transcription of the gene.

What are transcription factors?

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to regulate transcription.

Why can pancreatic beta cells and skin cells express different genes despite having the same genome?

They express different transcription factors which bind to different regulatory sequences.