Gene Expression Regulation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to gene expression regulation, including mechanisms and processes significant to biology.

Gene expression regulation

The various mechanisms that control the activation or inhibition of gene expression.

Transcriptional control

Regulation of gene expression at the transcription level, determining the rate at which a gene is transcribed to mRNA.

Epigenetics

Factors that change gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, such as chromatin remodeling.

Post-translational modification

Chemical modifications that occur to proteins after translation, affecting their activity and stability.

Methylation

The addition of a methyl group to DNA, often leading to the repression of gene transcription.

Alternative splicing

A process that allows a single gene to produce multiple proteins by varying the combination of exons in the final mRNA transcript.

RNA polymerase

The enzyme responsible for copying a DNA sequence into an RNA sequence during transcription.

Enhancers

DNA sequences that increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene by serving as binding sites for transcription factors.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)

Small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by interfering with the translation of mRNA.

Operon

A cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter, typically found in prokaryotes.