gene expression
the process by which DNS directs protein synthesis which includes transcription and translation
alkaptonuria
hereditary disease in which enzyme is missing to break down alkapton- turns urine black
primary transcript
initial RNA transcript from any gene pior to processing
central dogma
DNA→ RNA → PROTEIN
Pre-mRNA
RNA before splicing
exon
part of DNA expressed
intron
Part of DNA cut out
RNA Polymerase
catalyzes RNA synthesis which pries DNA apart and joins together RnA nucleotides
Initiation
RNA Polymerase finds and bonds to the promoter
Elongation
adds on corresponding RNA transcript
Termination
End signal adn RNA transcript is disconnected
Promoter
where RNA Polymerase attaches
Transcription Unit
Stratch of DNA that is transcribed
Transcription factors
mediate the binding of RNA polymerase and the iniation of transcription
TATA Box
promoter that is crucial to the initiation complex
Modification of Pre-mRNA
5’ recieves a 5’ cap
3’ end gets a poly A tail w/ 50-250 adenines
RNA splicing
removes introns adn joins exons creating an mRNA molecule
spliceosome
variety of protein and snRNPs that recognize the splice sites
Ribozymes
catalytic RNA molecules that function as enzymes and can splice RNA
tRNA
translates the mRNA into protein with the help of this; brings mRNA to the ribosome
anticodon
codes for a codon which codes for specific amino acid
aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
enzyme that attaches tRNA and an amino acid
wobble
explains how multiple anticodons can code for the same codon due to the flexible base pairing in the third base
rRNA
makes up ribosomal subunits
P site
holds the tRNA that carries the growing polypeptide
A Site
holds the tRNA that carries the next amino acid to be added to the chain
E site
discharged tRNA leave the ribosome
signal-recognition particle (SRP)
particle bound to the ER that ribosomes bind to when transporting polypeptide chain
Polyribosome
multiple ribosomes translating a single mRNA simultaniously
point mutation
chemical changes in just one base pair of a gene
silent mutation
no effect in the amino acid produced
missense mutation
still code for an amino acid but no the correct one
Nonsense mutation
change in amino acid codon into a stop codon leading to a nonfunctional protein
insertion/deletion
additon and deletion of nuclotide pairs
frameshift mutation
shift of the reading frame changing all the amino acids produced off of the mRNA chain
mutagen
physical or chemical agents that can cause mutations
operator
the “switch” positioned usually in the promoter of DNA
operon
the entire stretch of DNA that includes the promoter operator and gene
repressor
prevents gene transcription by binding to the operator and blocking RNA polymerase
corepressor
a molecule that cooperates with a repressor protein the switch off and operon
inducible operon
one that is usually off and the inducer in activates the repressor and turns on transcription (lac)
inducer
inactivates the repressor to turn the operon on
differential gene expression
the expression of different genes by cells with the same genome
histone acetylation
acetyl groups are attached to positively charged lysine in histone tails; loosens chromatin and promotes transcription
DNA methylation
the addition of methyl groups to certain bases in DNA; associated with reduced transcription in some species
virus
infectious particle consisting of genes packaged in a protein coat
capsid
protein shell that encloses the viral genome
capsomeres
monomer of capsid
viral envelopes
surround the capsids of influenza viruses and many other viruses found in animals
bacteriophages
viruses that infect bacteria
obligate intracellular parasites
meaning that viruses can only reproduce in a host cell
lytic cycle
produces new phages and the lyses the cell releasing more of the phages
lysogenic
when the viral DNA is incorporated into the host cell’s chromosome
prophage
integrated viral DNA
temperate phages
phages that use the lytic and lysogenic cycle
retroviruses
use reverse transcriptase to copy their RNA genome into DnA
provirus
viral DNA that is integrates into the host genome
vaccines
harmless derivates of pathogenic microbes that stimulate the immune system to mount defenses against the harmful pathogen
horizontal transmission
plant viruses entering through damaged cell walls
vertical transmission
inheriting the virus from a parent
viroids
small circular RNA molecules that infect plants and disrupt their growth
prions
slow-acting virtually indestructible infectious proteins that cause brain diseases in mammals