Biology: Chap. 11

Flashcards to help review lecture notes.

Promoter

The part of the eukaryotic gene where the RNA polymerase can begin interacting with the DNA and making the complementary RNA.

Transcription Factor

A protein that associates with the promoter and the RNA polymerase, forming a complex that allows the RNA polymerase to start making RNA.

PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

A gene that codes for a protein only manufactured where there are appreciable amounts of testosterone.

Androgen Response Element (ARE)

A region in the promoter of genes like PSA that is sensitive to testosterone levels.

Androgen Receptor (AR)

A transcription factor that interacts with the promoter and promotes the expression of genes with an ARE.

Enhancers

Control elements that can exist before or after a gene.

Activators

Proteins that bind to enhancers and, along with transcription factors, cause a gene complex to fold up, promoting RNA polymerase activity.

Alternative Splicing

A post-transcriptional control mechanism where different introns and exons can be removed, leading to different mRNA and potentially different proteins.

RNA Interference

A post-transcriptional control process where the cell makes a tiny RNA (microRNA) that is complementary to a region of messenger RNA, leading to its destruction.

Dicer

A protein complex that detects double-stranded RNA and hydrolyzes it.

Attaching

A type of post-translational modification in which the cell attaches proteins to modify it.

Ubiquinization

A post-translational process by which the cell destroys individual proteins by attaching ubiquinol proteins to mark them for destruction.

Protease

A type of protein that hydrolyzes another protein into its constitutive amino acids.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A molecular biology technique that makes countless copies of one small area of DNA from the genome.

Template DNA

Original DNA that will be copied.

Nucleotides

The raw material for DNA polymerase.

Single Stranded DNA Primers

Single-stranded DNA that acts as primers for the DNA polymerase and is complementary to a region of interest.

Crude Lysate

This is produced by a saline rinse and has some salt water, and the placement of some cells in the tube.

Lysis Buffer

A solution with pH buffers and a detergent to help rip cells apart, releasing their cellular components, including DNA.

PCR tube

A small tube that is to fit in a instrument called a thermocycler.

Thermocycler

A device with a metal block that rapidly heats and cools PCR tubes during the PCR process.

Denaturization

The first step of PCR where the temperature is raised to separate the strands of DNA.

Annealing

The second step of PCR where the temperature is lowered to allow PCR primers to attach to their complementary regions on the DNA.

Elongation

The third step of PCR where the temperature is raised to the ideal temperature for the DNA polymerase to copy the DNA.

Thermus aquaticus

A species of bacteria that lives in hot springs and produces the heat-stable DNA polymerase (Taq polymerase) used in PCR.

Restriction Enzyme

A protein from bacteria that cuts a specific DNA sequence, used to distinguish between different DNA sequences in genotyping assays.

HAE III

A restriction enzyme that cuts the DNA sequence GGCC.

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

A technique where DNA is ran through a vicous medium, and that speed is proportional to the size of the DNA fragment.

Electrophoresis

Electricity is used during this process to separate the DNA through a gel.

Gel

Slab with agarose carbohydrate, with holes, that are used during electrophoresis.