Chapter 11: Regulation of Gene Expression

Vocab:
Operon A genetic unit of transcription, typically consisting of several structural genes
that are transcribed together; the operon contains at least two control regions: the
promoter and the operator.
Inducible Produced only in the presence of a particular compound or under particular
circumstances / Genes that are expressed only when their products are needed.
Repressible A protein encoded by a regulatory gene that can bind to a promoter and
prevent transcription of the associated gene.
Questions:
1) Mechanism found between rats and alcoholism is the CREB gene regulation
protein. Alcoholic rats are found to have less CREB in their brains, but when they
consume alcohol the activity of the CREB increases
2) (See packet)
3) Constitutive genes are always expresses; whereas inducible genes are only
expressed at certain times or under certain conditions
4) Viruses are not living; they are not cellular because they dont have all the
characteristics of cellular organisms and the depend on cellular organisms to
reproduce
5) Viruses are classified into four groups based on their genetic material: A. double
stranded DNA, B. single stranded DNA, C. double stranded RNA, and D. single
stranded RNA
6) Lytic = then virions are immediately produced in the host cell. Lysogenic = when
the virus is dormant in the cell. The viruss DNA becomes part of the host.
7) Bacteriophages are examples of positive regulation because it has proteins that
inhibit the host expressing its genes. Also, it shows post transcription regulation
by degrading the host RNA before it is translated.
8) (see packet)
9) HIV counteracts this by making a complementary DNA strand to the HIVs RNA.
The DNA becomes a strand of DNA and bind to its complement. This DNA now
encodes Tat which allows the viral genome to be transcribed.
10) A. Promoter the part of the DNA where RNA polymerase bind to start
transcription. B. Operator the part of an operon that is the binding site for
repressors and it controls transcription of structural genes. C. Structural genes
encode the proteins structure
11) (see packet)
12) As a repressible operon, Trp encodes by a protein that can bind to a promoter and
prevent transcription of the associated gene. When its repressor is bound to the
operon, it is switched off. It is important to a bacterial cells because only allows
transcription to occur when it is essential to the cell.
13) They are useful because A. the genes are condensed into operons and B. the
binding of RNA polymerase starts transcription.

14) Since transcription is more complex in eukaryotes they need more transcription
factors. In some eukaryotes, multiple transcription factors are needed before it can
be expressed.
15) For RNA polymerase II to transcribe a TATA box is necessary for the
transcription factor to bind to. Then additional transcription factors are necessary
for the RNA polymerase II to bind.
16) (See packet)
17) In the chemical interactions between NFAT and DNA the hydrogen binds
associated with DNA bases help bind to transcription factors.
18) An induced fit is a change in the shape of an enzyme caused by binding to its
substrate that exposes the active site of the enzyme.
19) Coordinated genes expression is used to respond to environmental stress. In
response to the stressor the cell synthesizes proteins whose genes scatter through
the genome. All these genes have a specific regulatory sequence near its promoter
to coordinate expression.
20) A. Epigenetic changes to DNA and chromatin can regulate gene transcription as a
result of DNA methylation or histone protein modification and B. epigenetic
changes can be induced by the environment.
21) As a respond to their personal environments and experiences identical acquire
different epigenetic changes.
22) (See packet)
23) Alternate splicing accounts for the larger number of mRNAs than genes.
24) (See packet)
25) Ubiquitin is a protein that is covalently linked to other proteins branded for
breakdown by the proteosome.
26) MiRNA is considered to be the gene silencing mechanism because it inhibits
mRNA translation. This inhibition of the mRNA effectively silences the genes.
27) (See packet)
28) (See packet)