Microbial Biotechnology and the Yeast Two-Hybrid System

Vocabulary flashcards covering microbial biotechnology, industrial microbial enzymes, transcriptional regulation elements, and the components and mechanism of the Yeast Two-Hybrid system.

Microbes (Microorganisms)

Tiny organisms that are too small to be seen individually by the naked eye, comprising bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa.

Bioprospecting

The discovery and development of new products from biological resources.

Bacterial Biomass and Diversity Statistics

Less than $1\%$ of all bacterial species have been identified, cultured, and studied, yet they are estimated to comprise over $50\%$ of the earth's biomass.

Taq DNA Polymerase

A heat-stabile microbial enzyme isolated from a thermophile, widely used in molecular biology research.

Cellulase

A microbial enzyme used in industrial and commercial applications to make animal food more easily digestible and to produce stone-washed jeans.

Subtilisin

A microbial enzyme utilized as an active ingredient in laundry detergents.

Yeast Two-Hybrid System

A molecular biology tool designed to determine if two proteins (protein 'A' and protein 'B') interact with each other.

Bait Fusion Protein

A fusion of the protein of interest (protein 'A') with the DNA binding domain (DBD) of a transcription factor that binds to the promoter sequence.

Fish Fusion Protein

A fusion of a second protein (protein 'B') with an activator domain (AD) that normally binds to an enhancer.

Enhancers

DNA sequences (e.g., TGTTCT) that serve as binding sites for activator proteins (AD proteins) to stimulate RNA synthesis.

CAAT Box and TATA Box

Promoter elements situated approximately $80\text{ nt}$ and $30\text{ nt}$ upstream from the start site of a gene, respectively.

Transcription Initiation Complex

An active multi-protein complex formed on the promoter when protein-binding domains on activators attach to transcription factors via DNA bending, stimulating RNA synthesis by RNA polymerase.

TRP and LEU Selection Markers

Nutritional markers used in the yeast two-hybrid system, where TRP is carried on the bait plasmid and LEU is carried on the fish plasmid.

Reporter Gene

A gene (such as lacZ or HIS) whose transcription is stimulated when bait and fish proteins interact, yielding a measurable activity or product.