HG 7 Gene Expression Transcription and Translation

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture on Gene Expression, Transcription, and Translation.

Transcription

The process of converting the information in the DNA sequence into RNA for protein production.

Translation

The process of converting the information in the mRNA sequence into an amino acid sequence to produce the final protein.

Promoter

Initiates transcription within a gene.

RNA Coding Sequence

Contains the information to make the protein within a gene.

Terminator

Stops transcription within a gene.

Exons

Provide the code for the protein within a gene.

Introns

Removed before the mRNA leaves the nucleus, within a gene.

Transcription Factors

Assemble at the Promoter to initiate transcription.

TATA Box

The most common Promoter sequence.

Coding Strand

Contains the gene sequence during transcription.

Template Strand

Used to make the complementary RNA sequence during transcription.

RNA Polymerase II

Reaches a 3’ Termination sequence. Releases from the DNA, releasing the pre-mRNA sequence as well.

5' Capping

Protects from degradation and recognition translation.

Poly-A Tail

Enhances stability of mRNA. Regulates transport to the cytoplasm.

Spliceosome

Protein/RNA complex that is requires to identify the edges of exons during splicing.

Alternative splicing

Allows many proteins to be formed from the same gene.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Carries information from the DNA to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Combines with proteins to make the ribosome.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Transports amino acids to the ribosome.

Ribosomes

Cytoplasmic organelles that synthesise polypeptides.

tRNAs

tRNAs bring amino acids to the ribosome once mRNA has been bound.

Peptide bonds

Amino acids are linked together by .

Post-translational modification

Amino acid sequences are non-functional unless they undergo _.

off

Adding methyl groups to cytosine bases turns genes _, leading to gene silencing.

Translation

The process of reading the RNA message and converting it into an amino acid sequence to form a protein.

Promoter

A region at the start of the gene where transcription begins.

Terminator

A region at the end of the gene that signals the end of transcription.

Exons

Coding regions within the gene that contain instructions for making a protein.

Introns

Non-coding regions within the gene that are removed from the RNA before translation.

RNA polymerase II

Is the primary enzyme responsible for unwinding the DNA helix, reading the DNA sequence, and copying the information into a complementary RNA strand.

Coding Strand

Contains the information for making the protein.

Template Strand

Read by RNA polymerase II to create the RNA, ensuring the RNA message is identical to the coding strand (except for uracil instead of thymine).

Tight winding

Preventing transcription factors from accessing promoters, effectively turning genes off.

Poly-A polymerase

Adds up to 200 adenine bases to the end of the RNA strand, forming a poly-A tail.