Comprehensive Study Notes on Transcription and Gene Expression

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the lecture transcript on transcription properties, RNA structures, RNA types, and transcription units.

Amanitia Bellodes

The death cap mushroom, a deadly poisonous mushroom that produces a toxin that binds to RNA polymerase, inhibiting RNA synthesis.

RNA Polymerase

The enzyme responsible for binding to DNA and synthesizing RNA molecules using DNA as a template.

Ribozyme

An RNA molecule with catalytic activity that can break and remake phosphodiester bonds.

Primary Structure of RNA

The single-stranded sequence of ribonucleotides linked by a phosphodiester backbone with a $5'$ phosphate end and a $3'$ hydroxyl end.

Hairpin

A complex RNA secondary structure formed when regions of complementary base pairing within the RNA molecule hydrogen bond with each other, separated by non-base-pairing regions.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A type of RNA found in both bacteria and eukaryotes that helps incorporate amino acids into a growing polypeptide chain during translation.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

A type of RNA found in bacteria and eukaryotes that forms part of the ribosome structure to assist in translation.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

The precursor RNA transcript present in both bacteria and eukaryotes that carries the template code used to synthesize proteins.

CRISPR RNA

A specific type of regulatory RNA molecule found exclusively in prokaryotic cells.

Small Nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA)

Regulatory RNA molecules responsible for processing ribosomal RNA for integration into its enzyme complex.

Small Interfering RNAs (siRNA)

Small regulatory RNAs that bind to messenger RNAs and trigger their degradation, thereby turning off protein expression.

Transcription Unit

A region of DNA consisting of a promoter, an RNA coding region, and a terminator.

Promoter

A sequence within the DNA transcription unit where RNA polymerase first binds to initiate transcription.

RNA Coding Region

The portion of the DNA transcription unit that contains the genetic sequence translated into RNA and encoded for protein synthesis.

Terminator

A sequence in the DNA that signals to RNA polymerase where to stop transcription.

Template Strand

The single DNA strand running in a $3'$ to $5'$ direction that is transcribed to make an antiparallel RNA transcript.

Nontemplate Strand

The DNA strand running $5'$ to $3'$ that is not transcribed, sharing sequential identity with the generated RNA transcript (except containing thymines instead of uracils).

Start Site

The exact nucleotide position in DNA that correlates to the very first nucleotide incorporated into the RNA transcript.

Upstream

A relative positional direction referring toward the $5'$ end of the nontemplate DNA strand.

Downstream

A relative positional direction referring toward the $3'$ end of the nontemplate DNA strand.