BIO 102 UNIT 3 TERMS

Transformation

Cells take DNA molecules from surroundings and express the genes present on that DNA

R. Strain Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Harmless strain

E. Coli

Bacteria present in the intestines

T2 Virus

Virus infecting and destroying E. Coli

35s, 32p

Radioactive Sulfur, Phosphorus

Transcription

RNA Polymerase uses DNA strand as template to synthesize complementary RNA sequence

S Strain Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Lethal strain

Genetic Code

Rules by which info in gene and corresponding RNA is translated into the amino acid sequence of a protein

Translation

Sequence of nucleotides in the messenger RNA directs incorporation of amino acids into the protein

Deoxyribose

Sugar of DNA; Replaces hydroxyl group of ribose w/ hydrogen

Purine

Adenine and Guanine bases

Base pairing

Complementary nucleotides held together by H-bonds

5’ End

An end of a DNA strand w/ a knob; Phosphate

Nucleoside

Sugar and base (Adenosine, Cytidine, Thymidine, Uridine, or Guanosine)

Pyrimidine

Thymine and Cytosine bases (also Uracil of RNA)

3’ End

An end of a DNA strand w/ a hole; Hydroxyl

Nucleic Acid

DNA and RNA; Made of many nucleotides

Nucleotide

Basic building blocks of Nucleic acids; Sugar, phosphate, + base

Phosphodiester Bond

Bond joining sugars in polynucleotide

Antiparallel

Parallel but oriented in opposite directions

Ribose

Sugar of RNA, contains hydroxyl group

Polynucleotide

Linear polymer whose molecule is composed of many nucleotide units. Two of these make DNA, while one makes RNA

RNA Transcript

RNA molecule from transcription complementary to the non-templates strand of DNA

Transcription

RNA polymerase uses a template DNA strand to synthesize complementary RNA sequence

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Adaptors between mRNA and amino acids during protein synthesis

Transcription Factors

Accessory proteins assembled at each promoter helping RNA polymerase position itself and pull the DNA apart

Upstream

Always in the direction of the promoter; 3’-5’

RNA Capping

Modifies the 5’ end of RNA transcript, which is synthesized first

Pre-mRNA

Precursor-mRNA; Before splicing

RNA Splicing

Eukaryotic process where segments of RNA transcript are removed and the remaining are stitched back before translation(?)

RNA Polymerase

Enzyme assisting in transcription

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Code for proteins

Promoter

Signifies the start site of transcription

Template Strand

DNA strand providing template for ordering sequence of RNA

Downstream

Always in the opposite direction of the promoter; RNA is always made this way, 5’-3’

Polyadenylation

Provides newly transcribed mRNA with special structure at the 3’ end; Poly-A tail in Eukaryotes

Intron

Intervening sequences in Eukaryotes

Spliceosome

Small nuclear RNAs grouped carrying out RNA splicing

Gene expression

Info in DNA sequence converted into product (RNA/Protein) having effect on a cell/organism

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Form core of ribosomes structure and catalyze protein synthesis

Sigma factor

Subunit of RNA Polymerase in bacteria recognizing the promoter

Non-template strand

Coding strand; Sequence mirrors the new RNA molecule

Terminator

Signals stop site of transcription

Poly-A tail

Long tail of repeated A nucleotides in Eukaryotes

Exon

Expressed sequences in Eukaryotes; Represent only small fraction of total length of gene

Alternative splicing

Eukaryotic genes spliced in different ways; Allows many different proteins to be produced from the same gene

In what direction is RNA always built?

5’-3’

In what direction is DNA always read?

3’-5’

MicroRNA (miRNA)

Regulate Eukaryotic gene expression

Genetic code

Set of rules by which nucleotide gene is sequenced through mRNA to the Amino acid sequence of a protein

Codon

Each group of three consecutive nucleotides in RNA; Specifies one amino acid

Charged (Aminoacyl) tRNA

Type of tRNA with charged chemical bonding with its cognate amino acid

E (Exit) site

Site where uncharged tRNA exits the ribosome

N-Terminus

End of protein synthesized first

Translocation

Chromosome breaks, with fragments re-attatching to different chromosomes

Translation

Conversion of info from RNA to protein (another language)

Anticodon

Set of 3 consecutive nucleotides binding (base pairs) to complementary Codon in mRNA

A (Aminoacyl) site

Site where charged tRNA enters the ribosome

Start Codon (AUG)

Signals ribosome where to start protein synthesis

C-Terminus

End of protein synthesized last

Release Factors

Proteins allowing for termination of translation

Reading Frame

Ways of translating mRNA sequence specifying protein; Codons assist with this

Ribosome

Synthesis factories for proteins

tRNA

Carry amino acids to the ribosome

P (Peptidyl) site

Site where tRNA is held in place in ribosome while amino acid is linked to growing polypeptide chain

Stop codon

Signifies when protein is to be released; Stops synthesis

Peptide Bond

Long chain of amino acids (proteins)

Chaperones

Proteins helping make the protein folding process more efficient and reliable

Conformation

3D shape of protein/other macromolecule based on the location of atoms

Condensation reaction

Anabolic reaction where bonds are built; Water is lost; Forms peptide bonds

Amino Acid Sequence

Order of amino acid subunits in protein chain

Polypeptide

Chain of amino acids/peptides

Covalent bonds

Sharing electrons

Ionic bonds

Donating electrons

Side Chain (R Group)

Parts of amino acid not involved with forming peptide bonds

N (amino) Terminus

End of polypeptide with amino group

C (carboxyl) Terminus

End of polypeptide with carboxyl group

Peptide bond

Covalend bond between two amino acids in a protein chain

Noncovalent bonds/interactions

IMFS; Determine shape + strength of folded chains

Polypeptide backbone

Repeating sequence of core atoms -N-C-C- (in all amino acids)

Amino Acid

Building blocks of proteins

Hydrophobic interactions

Hydrophobic side chains cluster in interior of folded protein while hydrophilic cluster outside, forming hydrogen bonds. They are important in foverning the folding of any protein.

Electrophoresis

Separating DNA, RNA, or protein molecules based on overall electrical charge and size

Malaria

Disease caused by plasmodium parasite in infected mosquitoes

Homozygote

Identical alleles of a particular gene/genes

HbSS

Individuals with sickle cell anemia in hemoglobin (homozygous)

Morbidity

Rate of disease in a population

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an individual

HbAS

Normal and sickle cell hemoglobin proteins (heterozygous)

Mortality

Death, especially on a large scale

Phenotype

Physical and characteristic traits of an individual

Anemia

Condition where the blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells

Heterozygote

Two different alleles of a particular gene/genes

HbAA

Normal hemoglobin protein (homozygous)

Signal sequence

Sorting signal on a protein consisting of a continuous stretch of hydrophobic amino acids

Nuclear pore

Channel where select macromolecules move from the nucleus to cytoplasm, and smaller molecules can easily diffuse

Glycosylation

Process in which you take a carbohydrate/sugar and attach it to another molecule (a protein in our case)

Protein translocator

Transports proteins moving from the cytosol to the E.R., mitochondria, or chloroplasts. Proteins unfold in order to cross these

Rough E.R.

An entry point for proteins in order to undergo synthesis. It is ribosome coated

Unfolded protein response

Prompts cell to produce more E.R. and chaperones due to the buildup of misfolded proteins