Transcription and RNA Processing

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the process of transcription, RNA processing, and their regulation.

Transcription

The process of making mRNA from DNA, involving the synthesis of a specific gene rather than the entire DNA strand.

RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during the process of transcription.

Heterochromatin

Highly condensed DNA that is inactive and cannot be transcribed during interphase.

Euchromatin

Loosely packed DNA that is active and can be transcribed during interphase.

DNA Methylation

The addition of CH3 groups to DNA bases that causes genes to become inactive.

Transcription Unit

Area of DNA transcribed into mRNA, includes a gene, promoter region, and terminator region.

Promoter Region

The region of DNA where RNA polymerase and transcription factors bind to initiate transcription.

TATA Box

An initiator sequence of T's and A's in the promoter region recognized by RNA polymerase II.

Control Elements

Segments of noncoding DNA that serve as binding sites for activators or repressors.

Elongation

The stage of transcription where RNA polymerase adds RNA nucleotides to the growing mRNA strand.

Termination

The process that stops transcription when RNA polymerase reaches a termination sequence.

Polyadenylation Signal Sequence

The sequence in the newly transcribed mRNA that signals for the addition of a poly-A tail.

RNA Processing

The modifications made to mRNA before it exits the nucleus, including the addition of a poly-A tail and a GTP cap.

Exons

Segments of mRNA that contain the coding information for making a polypeptide.

Introns

Noncoding segments of mRNA that are removed during RNA splicing.

Spliceosomes

Enzyme complexes that remove introns from the mRNA strand during RNA processing.

Ribozymes

RNA molecules that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions, including RNA splicing.

RNA Alternative Splicing

A process that allows a single gene to produce multiple different proteins by including or excluding certain exons.