Gene Expression - Answers gene → mRNA → protein; steps where it is regulated include
transcription (most important), splicing (only in euks), translation, mRNA stability, protein
stability
Differential Gene Expression - Answers ea. cell expresses only a subset of its genes (humans
~20%); due to specific combo of activator proteins
Gene Regulation - Answers mechanism of differential gene expression
Regulation of Bacterial Transcription: TRP Operon - Answers 3 trp enzymes are the products of
the 5 genes (2 of which are dimer proteins); 5 genes are adjacent & transcribed as single long
mRNA
Regulation of Bacterial Transcription: TRP Operon Repression - Answers when tryptophan
available trp operon repressed (turned off; no need to make tryptophan) but turned on when
tryptophan is absent; protein repressor produced by trpR gene binds to operator, a DNA seq. @
beginning of operon, blocking trxn; reg. proteins bind to a seq. in DNA molecule near promoter
Negative Regulation - Answers binding of the regulatory protein prevents trxn; ex: trp repressor
regulation of trp operon
Positive Regulation - Answers binding of re. protein is necessary for transcription
Transcriptional Regulation in Euks - Answers DNA-binding proteins (trxn factors) bind to control
elements (DNA seq.) & activate transcription (+) or repress (-); trxn. factor proteins bind to
control elements to promote trxn.
General Transcription Factors & Mediators - Answers bind to proximal control elements & the
promotor
Activators - Answers bind to enhancers
Combinatorial Control - Answers cell specific transcript. results from diff. combos of trxn
factors; differential presence of trxn factors is due to earlier differential gene express; diff. cell
types come about through seq. of differential express. of trxn factors; last "generation" of trxn
factors turns on genes that encode specialized proteins
Chromatin Structure - Answers regulated by chem. modifying histones & DNA
Histone Acetylation - Answers addition of acetyl groups (acid0 promotes a "looser" chromatin
structure and promotes gene expression
DNA Methylation - Answers methyl groups added to base C to repress trxn through altering
chromatin structure
, Epigenetic Inheritance - Answers modifications & patterns of gene expression are passed down
@ cell division to descendent cells
Promoter - Answers proximal/close to gene being expressed control elements
Enhancer - Answers distal/far from gene being expressed control elements; proteins bound to
this make contact w/ & stimulate RNA polymerase via looping of intervening DNA
Alternative Splicing - Answers primary transcript may be spliced in diff. ways
Small RNAs may regulate mRNA stability & translation - Answers miRNA: micro RNAs that do
not code for protein seq. but bind to target mRNA to induce mRNA degradation or translation
inhibition
siRNA: short interfering RNAs that do not code for protein seq.
Both are 20-23 nt RNA molecules
Differentiation - Answers cellular specialization; cell acquires its final specialized form
Determination - Answers cells acquire info & become committed to a particular fate in the
organism; under genetic control; precedes differentiation
Pattern Formation - Answers spatial control of gene expression, determination & differentiation;
diff. patterns arise b/c regulatory molecules are distributed asymmetrically
Asymmetric Regulatory Molecules - Answers ~unequal cytokinesis & diff. cytoplasmic contents
(molecules = cytoplasmic determinants)
~different extracellular signals (process = induction)
Homeotic Genes - Answers "master genes" that control cellular identity; regulate the anterior-
posterior development of all bilateral animals; these proteins are trxn factors
Cancer - Answers disease of unregulated cell proliferation; loss of inhibition of proliferation; loss
of cell adhesion (ability to leave tumor & move elsewhere); ability to stimulate vascularization
Cancer & Genetic Control - Answers Cell proliferation is genetically controlled signaling
processes...
neighboring cells may stimulate or inhibit cell division
And regulations of trxn...
entry into mitosis involves adoption of an internal genetic program
Proto-oncogenes - Answers encode proteins that promote cell division