Regulation of Gene Expression Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression, transcriptional regulation mechanisms, epigenetic modifications, and analysis techniques.

Gene expression

The process by which a cell makes functional gene products, involving transcription of DNA to RNA and translation of mRNA into active proteins.

Transcriptome

The set of RNA molecules transcribed from a cell's genome at a given time.

Proteome

The set of proteins translated from a cell's transcriptome.

Promoter

A region of DNA located upstream from a gene's transcription start site that serves as a binding site for general transcription factors and RNA polymerase.

TATA box

A eukaryotic and archaeal promoter region located 25 to 35 bases upstream of the transcription start site with consensus sequence $5'\text{-TATAAA-}3'$, serving as the binding site for TFIID.

TFIID

A general transcription factor that binds directly to the TATA box and recruits other general transcription factors, including TFIIB, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH.

Enhancers

Regulatory DNA regions containing binding sites for specific regulatory transcription factors that tightly control gene transcription.

Transcriptional activators

Regulatory transcription factors that bind to target enhancers and promote gene transcription by helping recruit RNA polymerase and general transcription factors.

Transcriptional repressors

Regulatory transcription factors that bind to promoter or enhancer regions and block transcription by preventing activator binding or transcription machinery recruitment.

Epigenetic regulation

A form of gene regulation that influences chromatin structure to determine DNA accessibility to transcription factors and RNA polymerase without altering the DNA sequence.

Nucleosomes

Complexes created by the winding of eukaryotic DNA strands around histone proteins, forming the primary level of chromatin packing.

Transcriptional regulation

A level of gene control that determines whether a particular gene is transcribed into RNA.

Post-transcriptional regulation

Mechanisms occurring after RNA synthesis that influence the processing and export of mRNA out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm.

Translational regulation

Mechanisms that control how efficiently an mRNA transcript is translated into protein by ribosomes.

Post-translational mechanisms

Regulatory controls acting after a protein is synthesized to determine its activity level and lifespan.

p53

A tumor suppressor transcription factor active in cells with damaged DNA that regulates genes involved in cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, and programmed cell death (apoptosis).

Oncogene

An overactive mutant version of a gene or regulatory element (such as an enhancer) that promotes cancer by increasing protein activity and driving excessive cell division.

Gel electrophoresis

A laboratory technique using an electrical field and a semisolid, porous gel matrix to separate charged nucleic acid molecules based on their size.