Nucleic Acids
Proteins
DNA Replication
Transcription + Translation
Gene Expression
100

What bond connects sugars and phosphates together in DNA?

phosphodiester bond

100

What bond is between amino acids in a polypeptide?

Peptide bond

100

Which enzyme unravels the DNA double helix to reduce torsional strain

DNA gyrase
100

Where does translation take place?

In ribosomes (either free floating or on the RER)

100

How can DNA be the same in every cell yet every cell look and function differently (have different transcriptomes/proteomes?)

Epigenetics - genes can be turned on/off and/or the central dogma processes are regulated (gene expression)

200

What nitrogenous base is found in RNA instead of thymine? What type of nitrogenous base is it?

Uracil, pyrimidine

200
Describe quaternary structure of a protein

When more than one polypeptide is bonded together

200

What is the function of primase?

Primase lays down RNA primers to tell DNA pol III where to begin replication

200

What are the names of the strand mRNA is copied from vs the other strand?

mRNA copies from the template/antisense strand

The other strand is the sense/coding strand

200

What are the two types of transcription factors and what do they do?

Activators bind to enhancer sites and increase transcription. Repressors bind to silencer sites and decrease transcription.

300
Do both strands in DNA run 5' to 3' why or why not? What does 5' and 3' refer to?

No, the two strands are antiparallel so one will run 5' to 3' and the other will run 3' to 5'. The 3' end is where the sugar hangs off, the 5' end is where the phosphate group hangs off.

300

How can proteins be modified after being made?

Disulfide bonds, conjugation, chemical modifications, proteolytic cleavage

300

Name two functions of DNA polymerase III

Add nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction, proofreading/exonuclease activity in the 3' to 5' direction
300

What is the function of a signal sequence on mRNA? What type of protein will be made?

A signal sequence transfers the mRNA + ribosome to attach to the rough ER so that after being made the protein will be sent extracellularly

300
What can happen to proteins to directly decrease their amounts?

Proteins can be degraded by proteasomes via the process of ubiquitination

400

Name two similarities and two differences between DNA and RNA

Similarities: nucleic acids, nucleotides, have sugars and phosphate groups and nitrogenous bases, involved in transcription, etc.

Differences: T in DNA U in RNA, RNA can leave the nucleus, DNA is double stranded, RNA has ribose sugar, etc.

400

Name at least 4 bonds/interactions that are present in the tertiary structure of a protein

Peptide, ionic, covalent, disulfide, hydrogen, hydrophobic interactions
400

What is the difference between DNA pol I and ligase?

DNA pol I removes primers and fills them in with nucleotides. Ligase phosphodiester bonds the new nucleotides together

400

What are the 3 modifications that must be made to mRNA before it leaves the nucleus?

5' methyl cap, 3' poly A tail (adenylation), introns removed (may be alternatively spliced)

400

How can histones be modified to both increase and decrease transcription?

If histones are methylated, transcription is decreased

If histones are acetylated, transcription is increased

500

What is Chargaff's rule

The amount of As will equal Ts and Cs will equal Gs (or amount of pyrimidines and purines will be equal)

500

Why are globular proteins soluble in water but fibrous proteins are not?

Globular proteins have polar amino acids on the outside, fibrous proteins have nonpolar amino acids on the outside

500

Why do Okazaki fragments occur?

Since DNA pol III can only build nucleotides 5' to 3', on one strand, it will build away from the movement of helicase, so it will constantly have to restart replication

500

Describe the elongation + translocation steps of translation

A tRNA enters the A site and its amino acid peptide bonds with the amino acid from the tRNA in the P site. The ribosome then moves from 5' to 3', causing the deacylated tRNA to leave the E site
500

What is the role of inducers on the lac operon?

Lactose is an inducer that binds to the repressor of the lac operon, removing the repressor and allowing for the transcription of the lactose metabolism associated genes by RNA polymerase