Post-transcriptional Gene Control

A collection of flashcards focused on vocabulary and key concepts from the lecture on post-transcriptional gene control.

Post-transcriptional gene control

Mechanisms that regulate gene expression following transcription, including RNA processing and transport.

Maturation

The process by which primary RNA transcripts are modified to become functional, including capping, splicing, and polyadenylation.

Primary transcript

The initial RNA molecule synthesized from a gene that undergoes processing to become mature RNA.

RNA processing

The series of modifications that convert primary RNA transcripts into mature RNA, including splicing, capping, and polyadenylation.

mRNA

Messenger RNA, the RNA type that serves as a template for protein synthesis during translation.

tRNA

Transfer RNA, which helps decode mRNA sequences into proteins by carrying amino acids to the ribosome.

rRNA

Ribosomal RNA, the main component of ribosomes, where protein synthesis occurs.

Nucleus

The organelle in eukaryotic cells where the primary RNA transcripts are processed.

Exon

A coding sequence in RNA that remains in the mature mRNA after splicing.

Intron

A non-coding sequence in RNA that is removed during RNA splicing.

5' cap

A modified guanine nucleotide added to the 5' end of mRNA that protects it from degradation and helps in translation initiation.

Poly(A) tail

A sequence of adenine nucleotides added to the 3' end of mRNA to enhance stability and facilitate transport.

RNA splicing

The process of removing introns from pre-mRNA and joining exons together to form a mature mRNA.

snRNA

Small nuclear RNA, involved in the splicing of pre-mRNA.

Spliceosome

A complex of snRNAs and protein that performs splicing of pre-mRNA.

Alternative splicing

A process that allows a single gene to produce multiple mRNA variants, leading to diverse protein isoforms.

miRNA

Micro RNA, small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation.

siRNA

Short interfering RNA, a type of RNA that promotes the degradation of mRNA.

RNAi

RNA interference, a biological process where RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation.

Nuclear pore complex (NPC)

A large protein complex that regulates the transport of molecules in and out of the nucleus.

Cytoplasm

The contents of a cell excluding the nucleus, where several post-transcriptional processes occur.

RNP (Ribonucleoprotein) complex

A complex of RNA molecules and proteins essential for various RNA processing activities.

Cytoplasmic P bodies

Cellular structures that store and degrade mRNA.

Nuclear bodies

Specialized regions within the nucleus that are involved in various RNA processing and storage functions.

Exosome complex

A multi-protein complex involved in RNA degradation.

Transferrin receptor mRNA

mRNA that carries iron; its levels are regulated by iron availability via IRE-BP.

IRE (Iron Response Element)

A specific RNA sequence that regulates mRNA stability and translation in response to iron levels.

Cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF)

A protein complex essential for recognizing the polyadenylation signal in pre-mRNA.

mRNA stability

The lifespan of mRNA in a cell, influencing the levels of protein expression.

Decapping enzymes

Enzymes that remove the 5' cap from mRNA, marking it for degradation.

Polyadenylation

The addition of a poly(A) tail to the 3' end of an mRNA molecule.

Quality control sensing

Mechanisms that monitor mRNA quality, ensuring only properly processed mRNAs are translated.

Nuclear export factors

Proteins that facilitate the transport of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

mRNA translation rate

The speed at which ribosomes synthesize proteins from mRNA.

RNA editing

Post-transcriptional modification of RNA where the sequence of the RNA is altered.

Endonuclease

An enzyme that cleaves the phosphodiester bond within a nucleotide chain.

Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to RNA molecules, affecting their stability and translation.

Post-transcriptional regulation

Control mechanisms that occur after transcription, influencing gene expression levels.

Surveillance mechanisms

Processes that identify and degrade defective mRNA to prevent the translation of faulty proteins.

Adenosine deaminase

An enzyme that alters adenosine to inosine in RNA, part of extensive editing mechanisms.

Nuclear speckles

Subnuclear structures that store splicing factors and pre-mRNA processing components.

Cajal bodies

Nuclear structures involved in the modification of small nuclear RNAs and snRNP assembly.

RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)

A multi-protein complex that incorporates siRNA or miRNA to mediate post-transcriptional regulation.

Permission proteins

Proteins that regulate the access of RNAs to processing factors.

Transcription factors

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to regulate transcription of genes.

nuclear RNA

RNA molecules localized within the nucleus, including pre-mRNA.

Utricle

An organelle that frees harbored mRNAs for translation.

Dicer

An enzyme that processes miRNA and siRNA from longer double-stranded RNA precursors.

Translation initiation

The process where ribosomes start synthesizing proteins from mRNA.

Self-splicing introns

Introns that can remove themselves from RNA without the need for a spliceosome.

Group II introns

Type of intron that self-splices and is considered a ribozyme.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, regulated in part by proteins synthesized from alternatively spliced mRNAs.

Protein synthesis

The biological process whereby individual cells construct proteins.

Eukaryotic gene regulation

Complex mechanisms controlling gene expression in eukaryotic cells at various stages.