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16.1: Key Terms

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    115104

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    3' UTR
    3' untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated
    5' cap
    a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5' end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation
    5' UTR
    5' untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated
    activator
    protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription
    catabolite activator protein (CAP)
    protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available
    cis-acting element
    transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it
    Dicer
    enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA
    DNA methylation
    epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule
    enhancer
    segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene
    epigenetic
    heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence
    eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)
    protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation
    gene expression
    processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene
    guanine diphosphate (GDP)
    molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation
    guanine triphosphate (GTP)
    energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation
    histone acetylation
    epigenetic modification that leads to gene expression; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group
    inducible operon
    operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment
    initiation complex
    protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation
    lac operon
    operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose
    large 60S ribosomal subunit
    second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein
    microRNA (miRNA)
    small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them
    myc
    oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells
    negative regulator
    protein that prevents transcription
    operator
    region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells
    operon
    collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells
    poly-A tail
    a series of adenine nucleotides that are attached to the 3' end of an mRNA to protect the end from degradation
    positive regulator
    protein that increases transcription
    post-transcriptional
    control of gene expression after the RNA molecule has been created but before it is translated into protein
    post-translational
    control of gene expression after a protein has been created
    proteasome
    organelle that degrades proteins
    repressor
    protein that binds to the operator of prokaryotic genes to prevent transcription
    RISC
    protein complex that binds along with the miRNA to the RNA to degrade it
    RNA stability
    how long an RNA molecule will remain intact in the cytoplasm
    RNA-binding protein (RBP)
    protein that binds to the 3' or 5' UTR to increase or decrease the RNA stability
    small 40S ribosomal subunit
    ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein
    trans-acting element
    transcription factor binding site found outside the promoter or on another chromosome that influences the transcription of a particular gene
    transcription factor
    protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene
    transcription factor binding site
    sequence of DNA to which a transcription factor binds
    transcriptional start site
    site at which transcription begins
    trp operon
    series of genes necessary to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells
    tryptophan
    amino acid that can be synthesized by prokaryotic cells when necessary
    untranslated region
    segment of the RNA molecule that is not translated into protein. These regions lie before (upstream or 5') and after (downstream or 3') the protein-coding region

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