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.