Transcription Ch. 11

Front 1

The DNA strand that has the same sequence as the mRNA and is related by the genetic code to the protein sequence that it represents.

Back 1

coding strand (sense strand)

Front 2

The DNA strand that is complementary to the sense strand, and acts as the template for synthesis of mRNA.

Back 2

antisense strand (template strand)

Front 3

Enzymes that synthesize RNA using a DNA template (formally described as DNA-dependent RNA polymerases).

Back 3

RNA polymerases

Front 4

A region of DNA where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Back 4

promoter

Front 5

The position on DNA corresponding to the first base incorporated into RNA.

Back 5

startpoint

Front 6

A sequence of DNA that causes RNA polymerase to terminate transcription.

Back 6

terminator (t)

Front 7

The sequence between sites of initiation and termination by RNA polymerase; it may include more than one gene.

Back 7

transcription unit

Front 8

Sequences in the opposite direction from expression.

Back 8

upstream

Front 9

Sequences proceeding farther in the direction of expression.

Back 9

downstream

Front 10

The original unmodified RNA product corresponding to a transcription unit.

Back 10

primary transcript

Front 11

The stages of transcription up to synthesis of the first bond in RNA. This includes binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter and melting a short region of DNA into single strands.

Back 11

initiation

Front 12

The stage in a macromolecular synthesis reaction (replication, transcription, or translation) when the nucleotide or polypeptide chain is extended by the addition of individual subunits.

Back 12

elongation

Front 13

A separate reaction that ends a macromolecular synthesis reaction (replication, transcription, or translation), by stopping the addition of subunits, and (typically) causing disassembly of the synthetic apparatus

Back 13

termination

Front 14

The RNA polymerase form that is competent to initiate transcription. It consists of the four subunits of the core enzyme (a2ßß') and s factor.

Back 14

holoenzyme (complete enzyme)

Front 15

The complex of RNA polymerase subunits needed for elongation. It does not include additional subunits or factors that may be needed for initiation or termination.

Back 15

core enzyme

Front 16

The subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase needed for initiation; it is the major influence on selection of promoters.

Back 16

sigma factor

Front 17

Any random sequence of DNA that is bound by the core RNA polymerase when it is not engaged in transcription.

Back 17

loose binding site

Front 18

The stage of initiation of transcription when RNA polymerase causes the two strands of DNA to separate to form the "transcription bubble."

Back 18

open complex

Front 19

The binding of RNA polymerase to DNA in the formation of an open complex (when the strands of DNA have separated).

Back 19

tight binding

Front 20

The complex in initiation of transcription that consists of RNA polymerase and DNA and a dinucleotide that represents the first two bases in the RNA product.

Back 20

ternary complex

Front 21

It describes a process in which RNA polymerase starts transcription but terminates before it has left the promoter. It then reinitiates. Several cycles may occur before the elongation stage begins.

Back 21

abortive initiation

Front 22

Sequences in which many examples of a particular nucleic acid or protein are compared and the same individual bases or amino acids are always found at particular locations

Back 22

conserved sequences

Front 23

An idealized sequence in which each position represents the base most often found when many actual sequences are compared.

Back 23

consensus sequence

Front 24

The consensus sequence centered about 10 bp before the startpoint of a bacterial gene. It is involved in melting DNA during the initiation reaction.

Back 24

-10 sequence

Front 25

The consensus sequence centered about 35 bp before the startpoint of a bacterial gene. It is involved in initial recognition by RNA polymerase.

Back 25

-35 sequence

Front 26

A mutation in a promoter that decreases the rate of transcription.

Back 26

down mutation

Front 27

A mutation in a promoter that increases the rate of transcription.

Back 27

up mutation

Front 28

A technique for identifying the site on DNA bound by some protein by virtue of the protection of bonds in this region against attack by nucleases.

Back 28

footprinting

Front 29

A set of loci activated in response to an increase in temperature (and other abuses to the cell). All organisms have them. Their products usually include chaperones that act on denatured proteins.

Back 29

heat shock genes

Front 30

Genes that are transcribed before the replication of phage DNA. They code for regulators and other proteins needed for later stages of infection.

Back 30

early genes

Front 31

Phage genes that are regulated by the proteins coded by early genes. Some proteins coded bythem catalyze replication of the phage DNA; others regulate the expression of a later set of genes.

Back 31

middle genes

Front 32

Genes transcribed when phage DNA is being replicated. They code for components of the phage particle.

Back 32

late genes

Front 33

A sequence of events, each of which is stimulated by the previous one. In transcriptional regulation, as seen in sporulation and phage lytic development, it means that regulation is divided into stages, and at each stage, one of the genes that are expressed codes for a regulator needed to express the genes of the next stage.

Back 33

cascade

Front 34

The generation of a spore by a bacterium (by morphological conversion) or by a yeast (as the product of meiosis).

Back 34

sporulation

Front 35

The period of normal growth and division of a bacterium. For a bacterium that can sporulate, this contrasts with the sporulation phase, when spores are being formed

Back 35

vegetative phase

Front 36

A pathway in which a phosphate group is passed along a series of proteins.

Back 36

phosphorelay

Front 37

A sequence of DNA that causes RNA polymerase to terminate transcription.

Back 37

terminator (t)

Front 38

A mechanism of transcriptional control in which termination is prevented at a specific terminator site, allowing RNA polymerase to read into the genes beyond it.

Back 38

antitermination

Front 39

It occurs at transcription or translation when RNA polymerase or the ribosome, respectively, ignores a termination signal because of a mutation of the template or the behavior of an accessory factor.

Back 39

readthrough

Front 40

Terminators that are able to terminate transcription by bacterial RNA polymerase in the absence of any additional factors.

Back 40

intrinsic terminators

Front 41

A protein involved in assisting E. coli RNA polymerase to terminate transcription at certain terminators (called rho-dependent terminators).

Back 41

rho factor

Front 42

Sequences that terminate transcription by bacterial RNA polymerase in the presence of the rho factor.

Back 42

rho-dependent terminators

Front 43

An acronym for rho utilization site, the sequence of RNA that is recognized by the rho termination factor.

Back 43

rut

Front 44

The effect of a mutation in one gene in influencing the expression (at transcription or translation) of subsequent genes in the same transcription unit.

Back 44

polarity

Front 45

Proteins that allow RNA polymerase to transcribe through certain terminator sites.

Back 45

antitermination proteins

Front 46

Genes in phage lambda that are equivalent to the early class of other phages. They are transcribed immediately upon infection by the host RNA polymerase.

Back 46

immediate early genes

Front 47

Genes in phage lambda that are equivalent to the middle genes of other phages. They cannot be transcribed until regulator protein(s) coded by the immediate early genes have been synthesized

Back 47

delayed early genes