RNA: Transcription, processing, and decay - Transcription in eukaryotes

10 important questions on RNA: Transcription, processing, and decay - Transcription in eukaryotes

What is the function of transcription factors in gene transcription?

Eukaryotic promoters are first recognized by general transcription factors (GTFs). The function of GTFs is to attract the core RNA polymerase II so that it is positioned to begin RNA synthesis at the transcription start site.

What is required to activate RNA polymerase II once it is positioned on the DNA as part of the pre-initiation complex?

Transcription begins after phosphorylation of the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II.

Write down the order of events involving RNA polymerase II, leading to gene transcription.

  1. GTFs attract the core RNA polymerase II.
  2. Transcription begins after phosphorylation of the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II.
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Is a fully transcribed RNA needed first before processes occur?

No. In earlier days, most of the processing of eukaryotic pre-mRNA was thought to take place after RNA synthesis was complete. Processing after RNA synthesis is complete is said to be posttranscriptional. However, experimental evidence now indicates that processing actually takes place during RNA synthesis; it is cotranscriptional. Therefore, the partly synthesized (nascent) RNA is undergoing processing reactions as it emerges from the RNA polymerase II complex.

Do RNA processes occur in random order?

No. The order is:
  1. Capping
  2. Splicing
  3. Cleavage and polyadenylation

Which protein is involved in all three RNA processes?

RNA polymerase

In which cellular compartment(s) do RNA processes take place?

Nucleus and cytosol

Is alternative splicing an explanation for the observation that there are more proteins than genes in an organism?

Yes, by splicing different combinations can be made with the genes, coding for different proteins.

Is splicing a tissue-specific event?

Yes

What do you expect the tissue-specific slicing may depend on?

The different splicing enzymes in different tissue

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