Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

Flashcards covering key concepts in eukaryotic gene regulation, including definitions of terms related to gene regulation mechanisms.

The process by which eukaryotic organisms control gene expression to adapt to environmental changes.

Gene Regulation

Proteins that regulate the rate of transcription, influencing gene expression.

Regulatory Transcription Factors (RTFs)

Essential proteins required for the binding of RNA polymerase to the core promoter, facilitating transcription initiation.

General Transcription Factors (GTFs)

Proteins that increase transcription rates by binding to enhancers.

Transcriptional Activators

Transcriptional Repressors

Proteins that decrease transcription rates by binding to silencers.

The process by which multiple factors influence gene expression, including protein interactions and small effector molecules.

Combinatorial Control

The pattern of covalent modifications on histone proteins that regulates transcription.

Histone Code

The alteration of chromatin structure to regulate access to DNA and gene expression.

Chromatin Remodeling

The addition of methyl groups to DNA, typically resulting in gene silencing.

DNA Methylation

Regions rich in cytosine and guanine dinucleotides, important for gene regulation through DNA methylation.

CpG Islands

Heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence.

Epigenetics

Less compact chromatin that is actively transcribed.

Euchromatin

Tightly packed chromatin that is transcriptionally inactive.

Heterochromatin

Proteins that regulate mRNA levels of ferritin and transferrin receptor to adapt to cellular iron levels.

Iron Regulatory Proteins (IRPs)