AP bio--regulating gene expression

positive transcription factors

lets polymerase transcribe a gene

negative transcription factor

doesnt allow polymerase to attach or transcribe a gene

mRNA destroyer

destroys mRNA

affinity

how well something attached to DNA

genetic switch

sequence of DNA before a gene that works with positive transcription factor to initiate transcription

micro RNA (miRNA)

binds mRNA to block protein production or triggers mRNA degradation; biogenesis, RISC complex, mRNA targeting, gene silencing

alternative splicing

one gene produces multiple mRNA variants by including or excluding certain exons, creating diverse proteins isoform with different functions, tissues, or developmental stages; pre-mRNA splicing, alternative exons selection, mRNA diversity

poly-a tail

mRNA stability, translation efficiency, nuclear export, mRNA decay (deadenylation), developmental control

epigenetics

controls gene activity without changing the DNA sequence; DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs, gene specialization (differentiation), environmental response, development and disease

operon

only occurs in prokaryotes (bacteria), self-regulating gene, contains genes and the proteins to regulate those genes

inducible operon

protein production is induced/started in the presence of a signal molecule

repressible operon

protein production is repressed/stopped in the presence of a signal molecule