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Lecture

DNA Structure and Transcription

In course

BIO-105: Cellular biology and biochemistry for engineers

Basic course in biochemistry as well as cellular and molecular biology for non-life science students enrolling at the Master or PhD thesis level from various engineering disciplines. It reviews essential notions necessary for a training in biology-related ...

Description

This lecture covers the structure and function of DNA, including DNA replication, transcription, and mRNA translation. It also discusses gene expression regulation and the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic messengers. The instructor explains the role of RNA polymerase, transcription factors, and RNA splicing in gene expression.

Instructor

Romain Zufferey

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Biology

Genetics: Molecular genetics

Related concepts (32)

Gene expression

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product that enables it to produce end products, proteins or non-coding RNA, and ultimately affect a phenotype. These products are often proteins, but in non-protein-coding genes such as transfer RNA (tRNA) and small nuclear RNA (snRNA), the product is a functional non-coding RNA.

Regulation of gene expression

Regulation of gene expression, or gene regulation, includes a wide range of mechanisms that are used by cells to increase or decrease the production of specific gene products (protein or RNA). Sophisticated programs of gene expression are widely observed in biology, for example to trigger developmental pathways, respond to environmental stimuli, or adapt to new food sources. Virtually any step of gene expression can be modulated, from transcriptional initiation, to RNA processing, and to the post-translational modification of a protein.

Transcription factor

In molecular biology, a transcription factor (TF) (or sequence-specific DNA-binding factor) is a protein that controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA, by binding to a specific DNA sequence. The function of TFs is to regulate—turn on and off—genes in order to make sure that they are expressed in the desired cells at the right time and in the right amount throughout the life of the cell and the organism.

RNA polymerase II

RNA polymerase II (RNAP II and Pol II) is a multiprotein complex that transcribes DNA into precursors of messenger RNA (mRNA) and most small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and microRNA. It is one of the three RNAP enzymes found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. A 550 kDa complex of 12 subunits, RNAP II is the most studied type of RNA polymerase. A wide range of transcription factors are required for it to bind to upstream gene promoters and begin transcription.

DNA polymerase

A DNA polymerase is a member of a family of enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of DNA molecules from nucleoside triphosphates, the molecular precursors of DNA. These enzymes are essential for DNA replication and usually work in groups to create two identical DNA duplexes from a single original DNA duplex. During this process, DNA polymerase "reads" the existing DNA strands to create two new strands that match the existing ones. These enzymes catalyze the chemical reaction deoxynucleoside triphosphate + DNAn pyrophosphate + DNAn+1.

Related lectures (30)

DNA Structure and Gene Expression

Explores DNA structure, gene expression, RNA transcription, and protein manufacturing in cells, including the crucial role of RNA polymerase.

Prokaryotic Transcription: Operons and Sigma Factors

Explores prokaryotic transcription, operons, sigma factors, gene regulation, and DNA loops in bacteria.

Protein Synthesis: Recombinant Expression

Explores protein synthesis, genetic code, transcription, translation, and recombinant protein expression using vectors and plasmids.

RNA Functions: Transcription and Translation

Explores RNA functions in transcription, translation, and gene regulation, including defense mechanisms and viral infections.

Eukaryotic Transcription: Initiation and Elongation