Enhancers and Gene Expression Concepts

The video explains how cells function like factories, producing proteins based on demand. It covers transcriptional regulation, focusing on promoters and enhancers, and how they influence gene expression. The video also discusses chromatin states, tissue-specific enhancer roles, and methods to identify enhancer sequences. Understanding active and inactive enhancer states is crucial for gene expression regulation.

What is the primary function of a cell compared to a factory?

• To produce energy

• To produce proteins based on demand

• To store genetic information

• To eliminate waste products

What is the role of transcriptional regulation in a cell?

• To facilitate protein folding

• To control the speed of DNA replication

• To regulate the conversion of DNA to mRNA

• To manage cell division

Which of the following is a cis regulatory element?

• Ribosome

• Promoter

• RNA polymerase

• Transcription factor

How do enhancers influence gene expression?

• By altering the DNA sequence

• By interacting with transcription factors and cofactors

• By degrading mRNA

• By binding to ribosomes

What happens when an enhancer is in an active state?

• It degrades mRNA

• It is accessible to specialized transcription factors

• It becomes inaccessible to transcription factors

• It binds to ribosomes

In which state is an enhancer accessible but not bound by transcription factors?

• Active

• Inactive

• Primed

• Closed

How can enhancers affect gene expression differently in various tissues?

• By modifying the cell membrane

• By altering the cell's energy levels

• By being present in different chromatin states

• By changing the DNA sequence

Which method can be used to identify enhancer sequences?

• Gel electrophoresis

• Western blotting

• Protein crystallization

• Antibody pull-down and sequencing

What indicates an enhancer is in an open state?

• Presence of specific histone marks

• Inaccessibility to transcription factors

• Binding to ribosomes

• Degradation of mRNA

What is the significance of understanding enhancer states?

• To assess DNA replication speed

• To determine gene expression levels

• To measure cell division rates

• To predict protein folding