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Principles of Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcription attenuation in prokaryotes is a gene regulation mechanism that adjusts protein production by terminating transcription. It relies on RNA structures and can be intrinsic or Rho-dependent. Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotes use miRNAs and RISC for gene regulation due to their compartmentalized cellular structure, which separates transcription and translation processes.

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1

______ attenuation is a unique form of ______ control found only in ______, affecting gene expression during transcription.

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Transcription gene prokaryotes

2

The process involves early halting of transcription, which decreases the ______ of certain ______.

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production proteins

3

Secondary RNA structures can interfere with RNA polymerase movement along the ______ template.

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DNA

4

Changes in ______ or ______ conditions can lead to modifications in RNA structures, impacting transcription continuation or cessation.

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environmental cellular

5

This mechanism enables bacteria to swiftly adjust to changing environments by saving ______ and altering ______ pathways.

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resources metabolic

6

Characteristics of intrinsic termination in prokaryotes

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RNA forms hairpin loop followed by poly-U tract; no additional proteins needed.

7

Role of Rho protein in factor-dependent termination

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Rho recognizes RNA sequences, interacts with RNA polymerase to induce termination.

8

Importance of factor-dependent termination in bacteria

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Essential for ending transcription at specific genes; key in bacterial gene regulation.

9

In ______ cells, transcription attenuation isn't used for regulation because transcription and translation occur in separate compartments.

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eukaryotic

10

Unlike prokaryotes, ______ have developed different strategies to manage gene expression, such as post-transcriptional and post-translational ______.

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eukaryotic organisms modifications

11

To achieve precise and timely ______ synthesis, eukaryotic organisms rely on various regulatory strategies beyond transcription attenuation.

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protein

12

Function of miRNAs in gene regulation

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Bind to 3' UTRs of mRNAs, inhibit translation or degrade mRNA.

13

Role of RISC in miRNA pathway

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Mediates miRNA binding and action, essential for silencing gene expression.

14

Impact of miRNAs on protein-coding genes

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Influence expression of numerous genes, add complexity to gene regulation in eukaryotes.

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Principles of Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcription attenuation is a sophisticated mechanism of gene regulation found exclusively in prokaryotes, which modulates gene expression at the transcriptional level. It involves the premature termination of transcription, effectively reducing the production of certain proteins. This process is influenced by the formation of secondary RNA structures that can disrupt the normal progression of RNA polymerase along the DNA template. When environmental or cellular conditions change, specific regulatory proteins or metabolites can alter these structures, thereby influencing the continuation or termination of transcription. This dynamic control allows bacteria to rapidly adapt to fluctuating environments by conserving resources and modulating metabolic pathways.
Bacterial culture on agar plate with colonies in various shades of cream and light brown, laboratory background with scientific material.

The Dual Pathways of Transcription Attenuation

Prokaryotic cells employ two main types of transcription attenuation: intrinsic and factor-dependent termination. Intrinsic termination, or Rho-independent termination, is characterized by the RNA transcript forming a hairpin loop followed by a poly-uracil tract, which destabilizes the interaction between the RNA polymerase and the RNA, leading to the release of the transcript and cessation of transcription. This mechanism is widespread among bacteria and does not require additional proteins. Conversely, factor-dependent termination involves the Rho protein, which recognizes specific RNA sequences and interacts with RNA polymerase to induce termination. This Rho-dependent pathway is essential for terminating transcription at certain genes and is a key regulatory mechanism in some bacterial species.

Eukaryotic Challenges for Transcription Attenuation

In eukaryotic organisms, transcription attenuation is not a viable regulatory mechanism due to the physical separation of transcription in the nucleus and translation in the cytoplasm. This compartmentalization prevents the direct coupling of these processes, which is essential for attenuation mechanisms observed in prokaryotes. Instead, eukaryotic cells have evolved alternative regulatory strategies to control gene expression, including various post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications, to ensure precise and timely protein synthesis.

MicroRNA-Based Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Eukaryotic cells utilize microRNAs (miRNAs) as a key regulatory element in controlling gene expression. These small, non-coding RNA molecules are capable of influencing a vast array of protein-coding genes. MiRNAs function by binding to complementary sequences within the 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to either the inhibition of translation or the degradation of the mRNA. This process is mediated by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which is instrumental in the miRNA pathway. Through this mechanism, miRNAs serve as critical modulators of gene expression, contributing to the complexity of gene regulation in eukaryotic cells.