Transcription Factors and Their Roles in Diseases
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Questions and Answers

Which transcription factor is linked to the overexpression of genes associated with inflammation and is specifically implicated in rheumatoid arthritis?

  • c-Myc
  • NF-κB (correct)
  • REST
  • AP-1

What is the effect of overactivity of the c-Myc transcription factor in various cancers?

  • Regulation of apoptosis
  • Suppression of inflammation
  • Inhibition of gene activity
  • Excessive gene expression (correct)

Which condition is specifically related to the overexpression of the REST transcriptional factor in neuronal cells?

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Schizophrenia
  • Huntington's disease (correct)
  • Multiple sclerosis

The overtranscription of which types of genes is primarily associated with the overstimulation of NF-κB?

<p>Inflammatory response genes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the functional consequence of REST being overexpressed in neuronal cells?

<p>Repression of genes necessary for nerve cell health (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the process of the transcription factor activating a target gene?

<p>The activation of a receptor by a signaling molecule (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the role of transcription factors (TFs) in cellular functions?

<p>TFs bind to DNA to control gene expression through feedback mechanisms. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary outcome when a transcription factor is activated?

<p>It regulates specific target genes involved in cellular functions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component is responsible for amplifying the signal during the signaling cascade leading to TF activation?

<p>Relay molecules (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What sequence of events occurs after a signaling molecule binds to a receptor on the cell membrane?

<p>A cascade of intracellular events leading to TF activation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of transcription factors in gene expression?

<p>They can increase or decrease the rate of transcription. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates trans-acting control from other mechanisms of gene regulation?

<p>Trans-acting control involves interactions with distant genes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which domain of transcription factors is specifically responsible for binding to DNA?

<p>DNA-binding domain (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do transcription factors achieve an increase in transcription levels?

<p>By interacting with other proteins and coregulators. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the roles of repressor proteins in transcription regulation?

<p>They prevent transcription by binding to DNA regions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does histone acetylation have on gene transcription?

<p>It increases gene transcription by unwinding DNA. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does DNA methylation influence transcription levels?

<p>It reduces transcription by adding methyl groups to bases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of chromatin remodeling in gene transcription?

<p>It opens chromatin to allow transcription to occur. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during histone deacetylation regarding gene transcription?

<p>It represses transcription by maintaining tightly coiled DNA. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about demethylation is accurate?

<p>Demethylation enhances transcription levels. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What structural feature distinguishes the helix-turn-helix motif from other DNA recognition motifs?

<p>It consists of two alpha helices connected by a short turn. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which amino acids are primarily involved in the coordination of the zinc ion in the zinc finger motif?

<p>Cysteine and histidine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of DNA binding, what is the primary role of the helices in the helix-turn-helix motif?

<p>To fit into the DNA major groove (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common function of regulatory proteins that utilize DNA recognition motifs such as helix-turn-helix and zinc finger?

<p>To recruit RNA polymerase during transcription (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the insertion behavior of the zinc finger motif?

<p>It inserts into the DNA double helix to stabilize transcription factors. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of post-translational modification on transcription factors?

<p>It changes the protein's activity through chemical modifications. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism involves a change in protein structure due to the attachment of another molecule?

<p>Ligand binding (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can environmental conditions regulate the activity of transcription factors?

<p>By affecting the protein’s stability or interaction with other molecules. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of forced localization in the regulation of transcription factors?

<p>It involves the movement of the protein to the nucleus upon receiving a signal. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes a common mechanism of transcription factor regulation?

<p>Environmental conditions can influence the activity of transcription factors. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do activator proteins play in relation to enhancers?

<p>They assist in the DNA looping process to bring the enhancer closer to the promoter. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do enhancers and silencers influence gene expression despite their distant locations?

<p>They utilize DNA looping to become proximate to the promoter. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of distal control elements in gene regulation?

<p>They modulate transcription efficiency by affecting nearby promoters. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of DNA bending proteins in the context of enhancers?

<p>They assist in the looping process to bring enhancers closer to promoters. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is DNA looping considered a vital mechanism for the function of enhancers?

<p>It brings enhancer elements closer to the promoter to influence expression. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the functioning of silencers in gene expression regulation?

<p>They can inhibit gene expression even when located far from the target gene. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of gene expression, how do enhancers and silencers differ in their effects?

<p>Enhancers promote gene expression, whereas silencers inhibit it. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key takeaway regarding the relationship between enhancers and the genes they regulate?

<p>Enhancers can regulate genes regardless of their physical distance on the DNA strand. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

c-Myc

An overactive transcription factor that causes excessive gene expression, leading to the development of many cancers.

NF-κB

A transcriptional factor that, when overactive, increases the expression of genes involved in inflammation, potentially contributing to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

REST

A repressor transcription factor that, when overexpressed in neuronal cells, reduces the transcription of genes essential for healthy nerve cells, leading to Huntington's disease.

Huntington's Disease

A condition characterized by the overproduction of a repressor transcription factor (REST) in neuronal cells, resulting in decreased transcription of genes vital for healthy nerve function.

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Transcriptional Regulation

The process by which a transcription factor binds to DNA and regulates the expression of genes.

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Enhancers

DNA sequences that can activate gene expression, despite being located far away from the target gene.

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Silencers

DNA sequences that can silence or repress gene expression, even if located far away from the target gene.

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DNA Looping

The process where a DNA molecule bends and loops, bringing an enhancer or silencer closer to the promoter region.

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Activator/Repressor Proteins

These are proteins that bind to enhancers or silencers, initiating the DNA looping process, thereby affecting gene expression.

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Promoter

A specific DNA sequence that helps initiate transcription. It's like a 'start' button for gene expression.

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RNA Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template. It uses the DNA sequence as a blueprint to create RNA.

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Transcription

The process of converting DNA into RNA, which is then translated into proteins.

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DNA recognition motifs

Specific nucleotide sequences on DNA that are recognised by regulatory proteins.

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Helix-turn-helix motif

A type of DNA recognition motif consisting of two alpha helices connected by a short turn. The alpha helices fit into the major groove of DNA.

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Zinc finger motif

A type of DNA recognition motif that contains a zinc ion coordinated by cysteine and histidine residues. It inserts into the DNA double helix, stabilising the transcription factor.

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Regulatory proteins

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences and regulate gene expression.

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Major groove of DNA

The space between the two DNA strands where proteins can bind.

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Transcription Factor (TF)

A protein that controls gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences.

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Signal Transduction Pathway

A series of events triggered by an external stimulus, where a signal is amplified and passed along within a cell.

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Gene Regulation by TFs

A process where a TF, activated by a signal, binds to a specific gene's regulatory region to increase or decrease the gene's transcription.

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TF Feedback Loop

A feedback loop where a TF can influence its own production and activity.

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DNA-binding domain

A part of a TF that binds to specific DNA sequences.

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Transcription-activator domain

A part of a TF that interacts with other proteins to regulate transcription.

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Chromatin Remodeling

The process of making DNA accessible for transcription by unwinding tightly packed DNA.

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Histone Acetylation

The addition of acetyl groups to histone proteins, leading to DNA unwinding and increased gene transcription.

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Histone Deacetylation

The removal of acetyl groups from histone proteins, causing DNA to tighten and decrease gene transcription.

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DNA Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to certain DNA bases at the promoter region, reducing gene transcription.

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DNA Demethylation

The removal of methyl groups from certain DNA bases at the promoter region, enhancing gene transcription.

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Post-translational Modification

Modification of a protein's structure after it's been made, can activate or deactivate transcription factors.

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Ligand Binding

The binding of a molecule (ligand) to a transcription factor can cause a change in shape, activating or deactivating it.

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Environmental Conditions

Things like temperature or pH in the environment can affect how a transcription factor works.

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Forced Localization

A transcription factor might need a signal to move to the nucleus, where it controls gene expression.

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Transcription Factor Regulation

These are different ways that transcription factors can become active or inactive in a cell.

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Study Notes

Transcription Mis-Regulation and Disease

  • Many cancers can be caused by the over-activity of the c-Myc transcription factor - leads to excessive gene expression
  • Overactivation of the NF-κB transcription factor can lead to the over-transcription of genes involved inflammation – rheumatoid arthritis
  • Huntington's disease can be caused by the overexpression of the REST transcription factor in neuronal cells – it's a repressor and so reduces the transcription of genes needed for healthy nerve cells, leading to this condition of the central nervous system

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Description

Explore the intricate world of transcription factors and their influence on various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. This quiz delves into how factors like c-Myc and REST affect gene expression and cellular functions. Test your knowledge on the mechanisms behind these essential proteins and their implications in health and disease.

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