Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

Flashcards covering key concepts in eukaryotic gene regulation, including mechanisms, elements involved, and processes affecting gene expression.

Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

A complex process involving transcription factors, positive and negative control, and combinatorial control, distinct from prokaryotic regulation.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to regulate the transcription of genes.

Chromatin Remodeling

The dynamic structural alteration of chromatin, influencing gene expression by repositioning or restructuring DNA accessibility.

Histone Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to histone proteins that can inhibit transcription.

Histone Acetylation

The addition of acetyl groups to histone proteins that promotes transcription.

CpG Islands

Regions of DNA rich in cytosine and guanine that can be heavily methylated, associated with transcriptional repression.

Core Promoter

A region of DNA that contains essential motifs for the binding of basal transcription factors.

Enhancers

Distal regulatory elements that increase transcription by interacting with promoters.

Insulators

DNA sequences that block or limit interactions between enhancers and promoters, maintaining regulatory domains.

Transcriptional Stalling

A temporary halt in transcription where RNA polymerase stops, often due to molecular interactions.

Alternative Splicing

A process that enables a single gene to code for multiple proteins by producing different mRNA variants.

Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)

DNA loops that are transcriptionally active, allowing enhancers to interact with genes within the same domain.