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Mechanisms/ Stages of gene regulation
Mechanisms/ stages of gene regulation
Dr.V.Malathi
Eukaryotic gene expression can be regulated at many stages
- Chromatin accessibility. The structure of chromatin can be regulated. More open or “relaxed” chromatin makes a gene more available for transcription.
- Transcription. Transcription is a key regulatory point for many genes. With the help of transcription factor proteins bind to specific DNA sequences in or near a gene and promote or repress its transcription into an RNA.
- RNA processing. Processing events like Splicing, capping, alternative splicing and addition of a poly-A tail to an RNA molecule can be regulated in turn regulating gene expression.
- RNA stability. The lifetime of an mRNA molecule in the cytosol determines the number of proteins can be made from it. Small regulatory RNAs called miRNAs can bind to target mRNAs and cause them to be chopped up.
- Translation. Translation of an mRNA may be increased or inhibited by regulators. For instance, miRNAs sometimes block translation of their target mRNAs (rather than causing them to be chopped up).
- Protein activity. Proteins can undergo a variety of modifications, such as being chopped up or tagged with chemical groups. These modifications can be regulated and this in turn affect the activity or behavior of the protein.