13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Describe and give an example (real or hypothetical) of each of the following:

RNA interference

Write a short essay describing how an mRNA may be regulated in three different ways by specific cis-elements and RBPs.

Answer these questions concerning promoters.

What is the meaning of the term alternative promoter? How does the use of alternative promoters affect transcription?

Answer these questions concerning promoters.

Eukaryotic promoters are more variable than bacterial promoters. Explain why.

Answer these questions concerning promoters.

What consensus sequences are detected in the mammalian β-globin gene promoter?

List three types of alternative splicing patterns and how they lead to the production of different protein isoforms.

Consider the CT/CGRP example of alternative splicing shown in Figure 18.3. Which different types of alternative splicing patterns are represented?

Describe the roles of writers, readers, and erasers in eukaryotic gene regulation.

Explain how the use of alternative promoters and alternative polyadenylation signals produces mRNAs with different 5' and 3' ends.

Outline the roles of RNA in eukaryotic gene regulation.

Explain how a tissue-specific RNA-binding protein can lead to tissue-specific alternative splicing via splicing enhancers or splicing silencers.

The regulation of mRNA decay relies heavily upon deadenylases and decapping enzymes. Explain how these classes of enzymes are critical to initiating mRNA decay.

Nonsense-mediated decay is an mRNA surveillance pathway that eliminates mRNAs with premature stop codons. How does the cell distinguish between normal mRNAs and those with a premature stop?

AU-rich elements (AREs) are cis-elements in mRNAs that regulate stability and decay. How is it possible that a single mRNA sequence element can serve to stabilize an mRNA in some cases and lead to its decay in other scenarios?