Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Transcription Mechanisms

These flashcards cover key vocabulary concepts related to induced pluripotent stem cells and transcription mechanisms discussed in the lecture.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

Cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state.

Embryoid Body

A three-dimensional aggregate of pluripotent stem cells that can differentiate into various cell types.

Transcription Factor II D (TFIID)

A transcription factor that binds to the TATA box and is important for the initiation of transcription.

TATA Box

A DNA sequence found in the promoter region of genes, essential for the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase.

Housekeeping Genes

Essential genes that are required for the basic maintenance of cellular function and are expressed in all cell types.

Cis Elements

Regulatory sequences located close to the gene they regulate, affecting gene expression.

Trans Elements

Regulatory proteins that can act at a distance from the gene they regulate, often influencing transcription from afar.

Enhancers

DNA sequences that can increase the likelihood of transcription of particular genes, even from a distance.

5' Cap

A modified guanine nucleotide added to the 5' end of mRNA during processing, protecting it from degradation.

Palindromic Sequence

A sequence of DNA that reads the same backward and forward, often involved in termination of transcription.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template during transcription.