Chromatin
DNA exsits in condenssed, chromatin form in order to fit into the nucleus
Chromatin structure
Heterochromatin
Condensed, transcriptionally inactive, sterically inaccessible
HeteroChromatin= Highly Condensed
Euchromatin
Eu = true –> truly transcirbed
Less condensed, transcriptionally active, sterically **accessible **
DNA methylation
template strand cytosine and adenine methylated in DNA replication
allows mismatch repair enzymes to distinguish between old and new strands in prokaryotes
DNA methylation at **CpG islands **represses transcription
‘CpG Methylation makes Mute’
Histone methylation
reversible repression of DNA transcription BUT can activate it sometimes
Histone acetylation
relaxes DNA coiling and allows for transcription
Nucleotides
base + deoxyribose+ phosphate
linked by **3’-5’ phosphodiester bone **
are Purines and Pyrimidines
purines
Adenine
Guanine
2 rings
Pyrmidines
Cytosine, Thymine and Uracil
1 ring
uracile ONLY in RNA and thymine in DNA
deamination of cytosine makes uracil
Bonds between nucleotides
A:T = 2
C:G = 3
Purine synthesis: de novo
start with sugar + phosphate ( PRPP)
Add base
Things necessary for purine synthesis
GAG: **glutamine, aspartate and glycine **
and THF
Pyrimidine synthesis: de novo
**requires aspartate **
make temporary base ( orotic acid)
Drugs affecting nucleotide synthesis
Purine salvage deficiencies
adenosine deaminase deficiency
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
Adenosine deaminase deficiency
p.68 for drawing
excess ATP and dATP imbalances nucleotide pool via feedback inhibitionof ribonucleotide reductase –> prevents DNA synthesis and thus decrease lymphocyte count
is one of the major causes of **autosomal recessive SCID **
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
p.68 for drawing
defective purine salvage due to absent **HGPRT ( **converts hypoxanthine –> IMP and guanine –> GMP)
results in excess uric acid production and **de novo purine synthesis **
**X-linked recessive **
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome findings
HGPRT:
Hyperuricemia
Gout
Pissed off ( aggression and self-mutilation)
Retardation ( intellectual disability)
DysTonia
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome Tx
allopurinol
febuxostat ( 2nd-line)
unambiguous genetic code
each codon specifies only 1 AA
degenerate/ redundant genetic code
most AA are coded by multiple codons
Exceptions: methionine( AUG) and tryptophan(UGG) endcoded by only 1 codon
Severity of mutations
frameshift > nonsense > missense>> silent
Silent Mutation
nucleotide substitution but still codes for the same AA; often a base change in 3rd position of codon - tRNA wobble