Textbook Question
Compare and contrast the items in each pair: (c) general transcription factors and sigma.
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Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life11
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life10
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function11
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells10
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation16
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis14
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions14
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle12
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis13
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene32
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair8
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work35
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria19
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes17
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers23
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution13
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection17
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea17
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes19
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants18
- Ch. 29 - Fungi19
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals20
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals19
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function16
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development18
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology16
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology16
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology16
Chapter 19, Problem 5c
Compare and contrast the items in each pair:
(c) general transcription factors and sigma.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of transcription factors and sigma factors in the process of transcription. Transcription is the process by which DNA is copied into RNA, and both general transcription factors and sigma factors play crucial roles in initiating this process.
General transcription factors are proteins that assist in the initiation of transcription in eukaryotic cells. They help in the assembly of the transcription machinery at the promoter region of genes, facilitating the binding of RNA polymerase II to the DNA template.
Sigma factors are proteins found in prokaryotic cells, specifically bacteria, that are essential for the initiation of transcription. They bind to RNA polymerase and direct it to specific promoter regions on the DNA, ensuring that transcription begins at the correct site.
Compare the specificity: General transcription factors are involved in the transcription of most genes in eukaryotic cells, providing a general mechanism for transcription initiation. Sigma factors, on the other hand, can be specific to certain sets of genes, allowing bacteria to respond to environmental changes by altering gene expression.
Contrast the complexity: The assembly of general transcription factors in eukaryotes is typically more complex, involving multiple proteins and regulatory sequences. Sigma factors in prokaryotes provide a simpler mechanism for transcription initiation, often involving fewer components and a more direct interaction with RNA polymerase.
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Key Concepts
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General Transcription Factors
General transcription factors are proteins essential for the initiation of transcription in eukaryotic cells. They assist in the assembly of the transcription machinery at the promoter region of genes, facilitating the binding of RNA polymerase II. These factors are necessary for the transcription of all protein-coding genes and help in the formation of the transcription initiation complex.
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03:51
General Transcription Factors
Sigma Factor
Sigma factors are proteins in prokaryotic cells that play a crucial role in the initiation of transcription. They are a component of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme and are responsible for recognizing and binding to specific promoter sequences on the DNA. Sigma factors ensure that RNA polymerase initiates transcription at the correct site, and different sigma factors can direct the polymerase to different sets of genes.
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Comparison of General Transcription Factors and Sigma Factors
While both general transcription factors and sigma factors are involved in the initiation of transcription, they operate in different domains: eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, respectively. General transcription factors are part of a complex, multi-step process involving multiple proteins, whereas sigma factors are simpler, directly associating with RNA polymerase to guide it to the promoter. Both are essential for accurate transcription initiation, but their mechanisms and complexity differ significantly.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Compare and contrast the items in each pair:
(a) enhancers and the E. coli CAP binding site
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Textbook Question
Compare and contrast the items in each pair:
(b) promoter-proximal elements and the operator of the lac operon
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Textbook Question
Imagine discovering a loss-of-function mutation in a eukaryotic gene. You determine the gene's nucleotide sequence from the start site for transcription to the termination point of transcription and find no differences from the wild-type sequence. Explain where you think the mutation might be and how the mutation might be acting.
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Textbook Question
The following statements are about the control of chromatin condensation. Select True or False for each.
T/F Reducing histone acetylase activity is likely to decrease gene transcription.
T/F Mutations that reduce the number of positively charged amino acids on histones should promote open chromatin.
T/F Chromatin remodeling complexes add chemical groups to histones.
T/F Adding an inhibitor of DNA methylation is likely to reduce gene transcription.
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Textbook Question
Predict how a mutation that caused continuous production of active p53 would affect the cell.
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