Transcriptional Control

DNA Environmental change

RNA

Turn gene(s) on/off

protein Proteins to deal with new environment Very important to: 1. express genes when needed 2. repress genes when not needed 3. Conserve energy resources; avoid expressing unnecessary/detrimental genes

Prokaryotic Transcription

Operons Groups of related genes transcribed by the same promoter Polycistronic RNA Multiple genes transcribed as ONE TRANSCRIPT No nucleus, so transcription and translation can occur simultaneously

RNA Structure

Contain ribose instead of deoxyribose Bases are A,G,C,U, Uracil pairs with adenine Chemical difference from DNA, but large structural differences Ability to fold into 3D shapes - can be functional

RNA synthesis

RNAP binds, melts DNA

Nucleosides added 5 3

Types of RNA

Messenger RNA (mRNA) genes that encode proteins

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) form the core of ribosomes

Transfer RNA (tRNA) adaptors that link amino acids to mRNA during translation

Transcription
Initiation Elongation Termination

Processing
Capping Splicing Polyadenylation Turnover

Initiation
RNA polymerase Transcription factors Promoter DNA RNAP binding sites Operator repressor binding Other TF binding sites Start site of txn is +1

Core enzyme No specific promoter binding; tight non-specific DNA binding

Holoenzyme Specific promoter binding; weak non-specific DNA binding; finds promoter 10,000 times faster.

RNAP binds specific promoter sequences

Sigma factors recognize consensus -10 and -35 sequences Sigma factor () determines promoter specificity

TTGACA

TATAAT

Holoenzyme

sliding and scanning Promoter -35 -10

Closed complex

rNTPs PPi Core enzyme Open complex; initiation 5pppA

Sigma separates from the core once a phosphodiester bond is formed

mRNA

RNA polymerase

RNA nucleotide

Direction of transcription Template strand of DNA

Figure 10.9A

Newly made RNA

In transcription, DNA helix unzips

Promoter DNA

RNA polymerase

DNA of gene

RNA nucleotides line up along one strand of DNA, following the base-pairing rules

Initiation

Terminator DNA

Elongation

Area shown in Figure 10.9A

single-stranded messenger RNA peels away and DNA strands rejoin

Figure 10.9B

Termination Growing RNA

Completed RNA RNA polymerase

Transcriptional Termination

RNA polymerase needs to end transcription at the end of the gene when it encounters the terminator sequence 2 principle mechanisms of termination in bacteria:

Rho-independent (more common) Rho-dependent

3 types of polymerases RNA poly I transcribes rRNA RNA pol II - transcribes mRNA RNA pol III transcribes tRNA Eukaryotes first form a pre-mRNA Pre-mRNA is then processed to form a functional RNA

Exon Intron

Exon

Intron

Exon

Splicing Introns, are spliced out Modification of the 5 end by capping Addition of guanosine and then modification by addition if methyl groups A poly A tail is added to the 3 end

DNA Cap RNA transcript with cap and tail Transcription Addition of cap and tail

Introns removed

Tail

Exons spliced together mRNA Coding sequence NUCLEUS

CYTOPLASM

Figure 10.10