{"id":1046,"date":"2022-04-20T21:18:05","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T21:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/chapter\/key-terms-16\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T19:17:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:17:32","slug":"key-terms-16","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/chapter\/key-terms-16\/","title":{"raw":"Key Terms","rendered":"Key Terms"},"content":{"raw":"
\n \t
3' UTR<\/dt>\n \t
3' untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
5' cap<\/dt>\n \t
a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5' end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
5' UTR<\/dt>\n \t
5' untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
activator<\/dt>\n \t
protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
catabolite activator protein (CAP)<\/dt>\n \t
protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
cis<\/em>-acting element<\/dt>\n \t
transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
Dicer<\/dt>\n \t
enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
DNA methylation<\/dt>\n \t
epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
enhancer<\/dt>\n \t
segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
epigenetic<\/dt>\n \t
heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)<\/dt>\n \t
protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
gene expression<\/dt>\n \t
processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
guanine diphosphate (GDP)<\/dt>\n \t
molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
guanine triphosphate (GTP)<\/dt>\n \t
energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
histone acetylation<\/dt>\n \t
epigenetic modification that leads to gene expression; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
inducible operon<\/dt>\n \t
operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
initiation complex<\/dt>\n \t
protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
lac<\/em>\u00a0operon<\/dt>\n \t
operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
large 60S ribosomal subunit<\/dt>\n \t
second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
microRNA (miRNA)<\/dt>\n \t
small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
myc<\/dt>\n \t
oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
negative regulator<\/dt>\n \t
protein that prevents transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
operator<\/dt>\n \t
region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
operon<\/dt>\n \t
collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
poly-A tail<\/dt>\n \t
a series of adenine nucleotides that are attached to the 3' end of an mRNA to protect the end from degradation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
positive regulator<\/dt>\n \t
protein that increases transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
post-transcriptional<\/dt>\n \t
control of gene expression after the RNA molecule has been created but before it is translated into protein<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
post-translational<\/dt>\n \t
control of gene expression after a protein has been created<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
promoter<\/dt>\n \t
short DNA segment where RNA polymerase connects for the first time to start transcription of the group gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
proteasome<\/dt>\n \t
organelle that degrades proteins<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
repressor<\/dt>\n \t
protein that binds to the operator of prokaryotic genes to prevent transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
RISC<\/dt>\n \t
protein complex that binds along with the miRNA to the RNA to degrade it<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
RNA stability<\/dt>\n \t
how long an RNA molecule will remain intact in the cytoplasm<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
RNA-binding protein (RBP)<\/dt>\n \t
protein that binds to the 3' or 5' UTR to increase or decrease the RNA stability<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
small 40S ribosomal subunit<\/dt>\n \t
ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
trans<\/em>-acting element<\/dt>\n \t
transcription factor binding site found outside the promoter or on another chromosome that influences the transcription of a particular gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
transcription factor<\/dt>\n \t
protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
transcription factor binding site<\/dt>\n \t
sequence of DNA to which a transcription factor binds<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
transcriptional start site<\/dt>\n \t
site at which transcription begins<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
trp<\/em>\u00a0operon<\/dt>\n \t
series of genes necessary to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
tryptophan<\/dt>\n \t
amino acid that can be synthesized by prokaryotic cells when necessary<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n \t
untranslated region<\/dt>\n \t
segment of the RNA molecule that is not translated into protein. These regions lie before (upstream or 5') and after (downstream or 3') the protein-coding region<\/dd>\n<\/dl>","rendered":"
\n
3′ UTR<\/dt>\n
3′ untranslated region; region just downstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
5′ cap<\/dt>\n
a methylated guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule that is attached to the 5′ end of a messenger RNA to protect the end from degradation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
5′ UTR<\/dt>\n
5′ untranslated region; region just upstream of the protein-coding region in an RNA molecule that is not translated<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
activator<\/dt>\n
protein that binds to prokaryotic operators to increase transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
catabolite activator protein (CAP)<\/dt>\n
protein that complexes with cAMP to bind to the promoter sequences of operons which control sugar processing when glucose is not available<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
cis<\/em>-acting element<\/dt>\n
transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Dicer<\/dt>\n
enzyme that chops the pre-miRNA into the mature form of the miRNA<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
DNA methylation<\/dt>\n
epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
enhancer<\/dt>\n
segment of DNA that is upstream, downstream, perhaps thousands of nucleotides away, or on another chromosome that influence the transcription of a specific gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
epigenetic<\/dt>\n
heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2)<\/dt>\n
protein that binds first to an mRNA to initiate translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
gene expression<\/dt>\n
processes that control the turning on or turning off of a gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
guanine diphosphate (GDP)<\/dt>\n
molecule that is left after the energy is used to start translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
guanine triphosphate (GTP)<\/dt>\n
energy-providing molecule that binds to eIF-2 and is needed for translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
histone acetylation<\/dt>\n
epigenetic modification that leads to gene expression; a process involving adding or removing an acetyl functional group<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
inducible operon<\/dt>\n
operon that can be activated or repressed depending on cellular needs and the surrounding environment<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
initiation complex<\/dt>\n
protein complex containing eIF-2 that starts translation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
lac<\/em>\u00a0operon<\/dt>\n
operon in prokaryotic cells that encodes genes required for processing and intake of lactose<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
large 60S ribosomal subunit<\/dt>\n
second, larger ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
microRNA (miRNA)<\/dt>\n
small RNA molecules (approximately 21 nucleotides in length) that bind to RNA molecules to degrade them<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
myc<\/dt>\n
oncogene that causes cancer in many cancer cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
negative regulator<\/dt>\n
protein that prevents transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
operator<\/dt>\n
region of DNA outside of the promoter region that binds activators or repressors that control gene expression in prokaryotic cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
operon<\/dt>\n
collection of genes involved in a pathway that are transcribed together as a single mRNA in prokaryotic cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
poly-A tail<\/dt>\n
a series of adenine nucleotides that are attached to the 3′ end of an mRNA to protect the end from degradation<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
positive regulator<\/dt>\n
protein that increases transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
post-transcriptional<\/dt>\n
control of gene expression after the RNA molecule has been created but before it is translated into protein<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
post-translational<\/dt>\n
control of gene expression after a protein has been created<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
promoter<\/dt>\n
short DNA segment where RNA polymerase connects for the first time to start transcription of the group gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
proteasome<\/dt>\n
organelle that degrades proteins<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
repressor<\/dt>\n
protein that binds to the operator of prokaryotic genes to prevent transcription<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
RISC<\/dt>\n
protein complex that binds along with the miRNA to the RNA to degrade it<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
RNA stability<\/dt>\n
how long an RNA molecule will remain intact in the cytoplasm<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
RNA-binding protein (RBP)<\/dt>\n
protein that binds to the 3′ or 5′ UTR to increase or decrease the RNA stability<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
small 40S ribosomal subunit<\/dt>\n
ribosomal subunit that binds to the RNA to translate it into protein<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
trans<\/em>-acting element<\/dt>\n
transcription factor binding site found outside the promoter or on another chromosome that influences the transcription of a particular gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
transcription factor<\/dt>\n
protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
transcription factor binding site<\/dt>\n
sequence of DNA to which a transcription factor binds<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
transcriptional start site<\/dt>\n
site at which transcription begins<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
trp<\/em>\u00a0operon<\/dt>\n
series of genes necessary to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
tryptophan<\/dt>\n
amino acid that can be synthesized by prokaryotic cells when necessary<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
untranslated region<\/dt>\n
segment of the RNA molecule that is not translated into protein. These regions lie before (upstream or 5′) and after (downstream or 3′) the protein-coding region<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"menu_order":9,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["jung-choi","mary-ann-clark","matthew-douglas"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[92,93,94],"license":[53],"class_list":["post-1046","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-jung-choi","contributor-mary-ann-clark","contributor-matthew-douglas","license-cc-by"],"part":1013,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1047,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1046\/revisions\/1047"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/1013"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1046\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1046"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1046"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}