Gene Expression, Molecular Genetics
DNA Structure
DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid
5-carbon sugar(deoxyribose), phosphate, nitrogenous base(ATCG)
-double helix
-A = T, G = C
-antiparallel strands: 5’ to 3’ AND 3’ to 5’
-Hydrogen bonds bonding base pairs
-Covalent(phosphodiester/hydrophilic) bonds bonding sugar-phosphate backbone
-monomer: nucleotide
Eukaryotes: linear, in the nucleus of a cell(not allowed to leave)
Prokaryotes: circular, floating in the cytoplasm
RNA Structure
RNA: ribonucleic acid
-single-stranded
-A = U, G = C
DNA Replication
happens during S phase of interphase
Replication Fork
where DNA is unwound, forming a replication fork by DNA helicase
Topoisomerase
Prevent DNA ahead of replication fork from getting wound up too tightly(cuts temporary “nicks” to relieve tension and reseals them later
Helicase
unwinds double helix by breaking hydrogen bonds
Single-Stranded Binding Proteins
Stabilizes and keep strands at the replication fork from winding back up
RNA Primase
Makes an RNA primer that provides a 3’ end for the DNA polymerase to work on
Leading Strand
New DNA strand that is made in 1 continuous piece
Lagging Strand
DNA strand that is made in small pieces
Primer
RNA Primer
DNA Polymerase I
Removes the RNA primers and replaces it with DNA nucleotides
DNA Polymerase III
Attach at RNA primers and adds complementary DNA nulecotides
Ligase
Exonuclease
Okazaki Fragments
Semi-Conservative
DNA Regulation
RNA Structure
Replication
Transcription and RNA Processing
Translation
Regulation of Gene Expression
Gene Expression and Cell Specialization
Mutations
Biotechnology