Lecture 9: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

X-inactivation

When genes condense and block X from being transcribed

Gene Expression

the fundamental, regulated process by which cells read instructions in DNA to build functional products, usually proteins

Chormatin

Chromosomal DNA combined with proteins

Histones

Spindle which DNA is wrapped around

Nucleosomes

When DNA is wrapped around one histone

Histone tail

polypeptide chains (extensions) that extend from the histone core

HAT Vs HDAC

Histone acetyl transferases (HATs): add acetyl groups to positively charged lysine residues

• Opens Chromatin

Histone de-acetyl transferases (HDACs):remove acetyl group

• Closes Chromatin

Heterochromation/Euchromatin

• Highly condensed DNA is also called heterochromatin

• More open DNA is also called euchromatin

Histone Acetylation

mechanism where acetyl groups are added to lysine residues neutralizing their positive charge

Nucleosome Remodeling

ATP to slidenucleosomes along the DNA fiber

• Chromatin remodeling opens up chromatin for transcription

Green fluresecent protein

a bioluminescent protein from jellyfish that glows green, used in science to tag other proteins, genes, or cells, allowing researchers to visualize biological processes

General Transcription Factor

bind a specific DNA sequence at the promoter

Regulatory Transcription Factor

specialized proteins that control gene activity by turning genes "on" or "off"

Major/ Minor Groove

The two grooves that spiral around the DNA double helix

Enhancer

a short region of DNA that acts as a key regulatory element, increasing the transcription of a specific gene by binding to transcription factors, often looping over long distances to reach promoter region

Mediator

the Mediator complex is a protein bridge that links these distant enhancers to promoter-bound RNA polymerase II

Promoter

promoter is a specific, non-coding DNA sequence acts as the binding site for RNA polymerase and transcription factors to initiate transcription. It acts as a molecular "on/off"