DNA Transcription Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

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Questions and Answers

Which technique is best suited for studying transcription dynamics in a single cell?

Single cell RNA seq (correct)

Northern blot

RNA-seq

Reverse transcription PCR

What is the key limitation of using Single molecule FISH for studying transcription?

High sequencing depth due to high RNA amount per cell

Low sequencing depth due to low RNA amount per cell (correct)

Difficulty in measuring transcription output

Difficulty in defining key transcription terms

Which technique involves the extraction of DNA using trysol?

Reverse transcription PCR (correct)

Northern blot

RNA-seq

Single cell RNA seq

In which cellular location does reverse transcription occur in the context of studying transcription?

Cytosol (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which technique is commonly used for measuring transcription output?

RNA-seq (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of all the mentioned techniques (gel, Northern blot, RT-PCR, RNA-seq) for studying transcription?

They are population-based rather than single-cell techniques (A) Signup and view all the answers

What do viruses have the ability to do in the context of gene expression?

Reverse transcribe DNA (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of the transcription process in terms of DNA strands used for transcription?

The choice of DNA strand for transcription depends on where the gene body is located (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main drawback of using C-fos* GFP labelled C-fos for studying transcription dynamics?

Low sequencing depth due to low RNA amount per cell (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key outcome of understanding and recapitulating the steps involved from DNA to mature mRNA?

Understanding the dynamics of transcription in a single cell (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which enzyme is responsible for adding As to the 3’ end of the mRNA during polyadenylation?

PolyA polymerase (PAP) (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of TFIID in transcription initiation?

Binds to the TATA box and marks the promoter as active (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of CTD of RNA polymerase II during transcription initiation?

Phosphorylates RNA polymerase II (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does PAF1 recruit during transcription elongation?

MLL to trimethylate a histone (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of TFIIH during transcription initiation?

Unwinds the DNA using helicase activity (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of CPSF during transcription termination?

Recognizes the polyadenylation sequence in the 3' UTR (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of enhancers and silencers in gene transcription regulation?

Enhancers activate gene expression, while silencers repress gene expression (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does cohesin contribute to gene transcription regulation?

Loops DNA to bring enhancers closer to the promoter (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which complex is responsible for recruiting polyA polymerase (PAP) during polyadenylation?

RNA cleavage complex (C) Signup and view all the answers

What modification occurs at the 5’ end of pre-mRNA during transcription elongation?

Capping with a methylated guanine, followed by removal of gamma phosphate and addition of a normal guanine (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the functions of mRNA maturation?

Stabilizes the pre-mRNA molecule (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of the precatalytic splicesome?

Contains U3 (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the 5'GU sequence in splicing?

Recruits U2 through BBP and U2AF (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why do we have over 2 million proteins in our body despite having only around 20,000 protein coding genes?

Resulting from alternative splicing (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can cause transcription deregulation in the context of cancer?

Alterations in CREs/TREs (B) Signup and view all the answers

How are alterations to alternative splicing linked to cancer cells?

Leading to alterations in splice sites (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is one approach for targeting de-regulated splicing in cancer therapy?

Small molecule compounds modulating the activity of splicing factors (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Transcription Dynamics

Single-molecule FISH is best suited for studying transcription dynamics in a single cell.
The key limitation of using Single molecule FISH is that it is only able to detect RNA in fixed cells.

DNA Extraction

The technique that involves the extraction of DNA using trysol is not specific to transcription studies, but rather a general method for DNA extraction.

Reverse Transcription

Reverse transcription occurs in the cytoplasm in the context of studying transcription.

Transcription Output Measurement

The technique commonly used for measuring transcription output is RT-PCR.

Characteristics of Transcription Techniques

A characteristic of all the mentioned techniques (gel, Northern blot, RT-PCR, RNA-seq) for studying transcription is that they are all used to measure RNA levels or transcription output.

Viruses and Gene Expression

Viruses have the ability to hijack cellular machinery to express their own genes.

Transcription Process

A defining feature of the transcription process is that it occurs on the template DNA strand.

Studying Transcription Dynamics

Using C-fos* GFP labelled C-fos to study transcription dynamics has a main drawback of being an indirect measure of transcription.

Transcription and mRNA Maturation

Understanding and recapitulating the steps involved from DNA to mature mRNA allows for the manipulation of gene expression.
The key outcome of understanding and recapitulating the steps involved from DNA to mature mRNA is the ability to manipulate gene expression.

Polyadenylation

The enzyme responsible for adding As to the 3’ end of the mRNA during polyadenylation is polyA polymerase (PAP).
CPSF is involved in polyadenylation, and its function is to add As to the 3’ end of the mRNA.

Transcription Initiation

TFIID plays a role in transcription initiation by recognizing and binding to the core promoter region.
The function of the CTD of RNA polymerase II during transcription initiation is to interact with general transcription factors.
TFIIH is involved in transcription initiation and plays a role in unwinding DNA.

Transcription Elongation

PAF1 recruits transcription elongation factors during transcription elongation.

Transcription Termination

CPSF is involved in transcription termination, and its function is to cleave the RNA transcript.

Gene Regulation

Enhancers and silencers are involved in gene transcription regulation by either enhancing or silencing gene expression.
Cohesin contributes to gene transcription regulation by looping enhancers to promoters.

Polyadenylation Complex

The complex responsible for recruiting polyA polymerase (PAP) during polyadenylation is CPSF.

mRNA Maturation

The modification that occurs at the 5’ end of pre-mRNA during transcription elongation is the addition of a 7-methylguanosine cap.
One of the functions of mRNA maturation is to protect the mRNA from degradation.

Splicing

A characteristic of the precatalytic spliceosome is that it is a large RNA-protein complex.
The 5'GU sequence plays a role in splicing by serving as a binding site for the spliceosome.

Proteome Diversity

Having over 2 million proteins in our body despite having only around 20,000 protein coding genes is possible due to alternative splicing and post-translational modifications.

Cancer and Transcription

Transcription deregulation in the context of cancer can be caused by genetic mutations.
Alterations to alternative splicing are linked to cancer cells by allowing for the production of oncogenic proteins.
One approach for targeting de-regulated splicing in cancer therapy is to use splice-switching oligonucleotides.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the basics of DNA transcription and splicing. This quiz covers the steps involved from DNA to mature mRNA, key transcription terms, and the dynamics of transcription in a single cell.

DNA Transcription Basics Quiz

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