DNA Transcription Basics Quiz

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.

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.