AP BIO Quick15: Gene Expression & Regulation

Place the steps in order of a signal transduction pathway that would allow an organism to respond to environmental changes.

• gene expression is activated, inhibited, or altered

• ligand binds to specific protein receptor

• secondary messengers are activated

• receptor undergoes conformational change

• phosphorylation cascade occurs

Match the type of eukaryotic gene regulation to its description.

• Post-Translational Modifications

• Phosphate groups can be added to alter the structure, and thus the function, of the protein

• DNA Methylation

• the addition of a functional group to histone proteins around DNA, increasing expression of that gene by loosening chromatin

• Histone Acetylation

• organisms can change what introns/exons are kept in mRNA, altering the protein produced

• Alternative Splicing

• Altering the lifespan of messenger RNA can alter the quantity of protein(s) produced.

• RNA Interference/ Degradation

• the addition of a functional group to DNA, decreasing expression of that gene

Which of the following describes the function of general transcription factors?

• They are enzymes promote the degradation of RNA transcripts.

• They are involved in protein synthesis.
• They are the proteins that regulate the splicing of mRNA.

• They are proteins that assist in the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase.

Which of the following describes the function of enhancer sequences in DNA?

• Enhancer sequences bind to ribosomes during translation.
• Enhancer sequences are involved in DNA replication.
• Enhancer sequences decrease gene transcription by regulating inhibiting factor activity.

• Enhancer sequences increase gene transcription by regulating transcription factor activity.

Match the structures involved in protein synthesis to their function.

• Golgi Apparatus

• Joins amino acids together

• RNA Polymerase

• Modifies proteins after synthesis

• Small Ribosomal Subunit

• Translates mRNA into protein by reading codons

• Large Ribosomal Subunit

• Synthesizes RNA from DNA

Which of the following accurately describes the direction that RNA is built?

• RNA is built in the 3' to 5' direction and the template strand is read 3' to 5'.

• RNA is built in a circular manner in the 5' to 3'

• RNA is built in the 5' to 3' direction and the template strand is read 3' to 5'

• RNA is built randomly without a specific direction.

What role do promoter regions play in gene expression?

• They are responsible for the translation of mRNA into proteins.

• They degrade mRNA after transcription.

• They serve as binding sites for RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.

• They are involved in the termination of transcription.

What is the primary function of RNA polymerase during transcription?

• RNA polymerase is involved in the translation of proteins.

• RNA polymerase synthesizes DNA from an RNA template.

• RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA double helix.

• RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from a DNA template.

Explain the role of transcription factors in gene expression regulation.

• Transcription factors have no role in gene expression regulation.

• Transcription factors regulate the initiation of transcription by binding to specific DNA sequences.

• Transcription factors regulate the initiation of translation by binding to specific RNA sequences.

• Transcription factors are only involved in DNA replication and not gene expression regulation.

Which of the following describes hormones in cell signaling pathways?

• Hormones are primarily used for energy storage.
• Hormones do not interact with cells directly.
• Hormones are only produced in the brain.
• Hormones act as chemical messengers in cell signaling pathways.