Summary

A. Gene Expression
• Translation
• Transcription
• A biochemical Model

B. Gene Regulation
• Repressor
• Activator
• Feedback Control
• Models for gene regulation network
 DNA and RNA have a backbone
of sugar - phosphate

DNA

RNA
 DNA is stored in the Nucleus

Each DNA molecule is a

Chromosome

Number of chromosomes
varies for each species

A DNA molecule has sections

that code for a protein
called Genes

Gene protein
 Gene Expression
Gene is just a small part of DNA. The gene expression
follows the process of:
DNA RNA Protein

Gene expression shows big difference between prokaryotic and

eukaryotic cells. Most of the models of gene networks proposed
in literature are for prokaryotic cells.
 Transcription
RNA is an intermediary
between DNA and Protein

Transcription from DNA to

RNA is based on the base pair.
However RNA doesn’t have “T”
, instead it has “U”,
which pairs with “A”
just as “T” does.

mRNA carries the information on

how to make a protein
from nucleus to ribosome

Other RNA’s involved in protein

synthesis: tRNA and rRNA

How is the information converted

from DNA to RNA to protein?
Gene expression involves two steps

Transcription
What happens?
Where does it take place? Translation
What happens?
Where does it take place?
 Transcription: from DNA to mRNA

The Parts involved:

•DNA (only one side is the template)

•Single nucleotides (to make the new mRNA)

•RNA polymerase (enzyme)

Product: mRNA
 After transcription and before translation,
mRNA needs to be edited

• Capping and tailing

adds extra nucleotides

• RNA splicing
cut and paste
 Translation: from mRNA to protein
The parts involved:
•mRNA
•tRNA
•Ribosomes (rRNA)
•amino acids (attached to tRNA)

The process
•Initiation
•Elongation
Codon recognition
Peptide bond formation
Translocation
•Termination
 Regulation of Gene Expression
Internal Regulation: Control takes place
during many steps of gene expression

Valve = regulation step

During each regulation step:

If necessary molecules
(usually other proteins) are not
present, valve is not open and process
stops

Most important step is transcription

Gene Regulation
Image modifed from "miRNA biogenesis," by Narayanese, CC BY-SA 3.0. The
modified image is licensed under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license
 Transcription factors are a group of proteins
that control transcription step

Transcription factors
turn genes on by
attaching to enhancers

Making it easier for RNA

polymerase to bind
to DNA and begin
transcription

What happens
if there are no
transcription factors?
 External Regulation:
signals from the outside control gene
expression

1. Signal molecule (like hormone)

produced by another cell

2. it binds to receptor proteins in cell

membrane

3-4. This starts a signal transduction

pathway series of molecular changes that
converts a signal into a response
This pathway activates a transcription
factor

5. it allows transcription of DNA into RNA

6. And translation of RNA into protein

 Always being expressed  Only being expressed when
at any time needed or induced
 Genes that responsible  Genes that responsible in
in basic metabolism alternative system/process
 Doesn’t need an  Need certain condition to be
ON/OFF regulation expressed, usually certain
system
kind of condition or certain
compound as an inducer 
ON/OFF system
GENE LEVEL REGULATORY
Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotes
 Regulation at all steps as in bacteria and a few
additional steps as well, such as splicing
 Is more elaborate and complex than its bacterial
counterpart
 Involve activators and repressors also
 Involve additional features:
 Nucleosomes and their modifiers
 More regulators and more extensive regulatory sequences
Enhancers
Insulators or boundary elements: block activation of the
promoters by activators bound at enhancers
 Switching a gene off through DNA methylation and
histone modification
Regulatory RNAs
 Gene silencing mechanisms
 Small RNAs (sRNAs)  short RNAs that base-pair with
mRNAs bearing complementary sequences  inhibits
translation; triggers mRNA destruction; stimulates
translation
 dsRNA :  an agent of gene silencing in a process
called RNAi (RNA interference)
involve specific enzyme : Drosha and Dicer 
produced siRNAs(small interfering RNAs) and
miRNAs (microRNAs)  direct a complex called RISC
protein: RNA-induced silencing complex) to repress
gene