H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

1 Within a cell, the amount of polypeptide made using a given mRNA molecule
depends partly on
A
B
C
D

the degree of DNA methylation

the rate of which the mRNA is degraded
the presence of transcription factors
the types of ribosomes present in the cytoplasm

Note: The rate of which the mRNA degrades is dependent and directly proportional to the
length of poly A tail present at the 3 end of the mRNA. It is degraded by
exoribonucleases present in the cytoplasm. Hence a longer poly A tail will take a longer time
for degradation allowing more time for translation. DNA methylation will cause the
chromatin to be tightly packed which prevents transcription of the gene. The presence of
transcription factors (general of specific) will bring about transcription of genes while the
type of ribosomes (70/80s) is not relevant in this question. On another note, the location of
the ribosome, free ribosome or bound onto the RER will determine the destination of the
protein.
2 The diagram below shows how acetylation of histones promotes loose chromatin
structure. Recent evidence has shown that chemical modification of histones play
a direct role in regulation of gene expression.
Which of the following best explains how acetylation regulates gene expression?

histone deacetylase

histone acetylase
histone tail

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

A Helicase action is enhanced by acetylation.

B Acetylation of histones neutralizes their negative charges and encourages
binding to DNA polymerase.
C When nucleosomes are highly acetylated, chromatin becomes less compact
and DNA is more accessible for transcription.
D RNA polymerase works better by binding with acetyl groups.
Note: Acetylation removes the positive charge of the lysine R group hence causing the lysine
of the histone to bind loosely to the sugar phosphate backbone of the DNA. Recall that
helicase serves to break the hydrogen bond between the DNA strands in semi conservative
replication.
3 Which of the following is an example of a possible step in the post-transcriptional
control of gene expression?
A
B
C
D

The addition of methyl groups to cytosine bases of DNA.

The binding of transcription factors to a promoter.
The removal of introns and splicing together of exons.
Gene amplification during a stage in development.

Note: removal of introns and splicing together of exons are brought about by splicesosome
and they are part of post transcriptional modification of the primary RNA. The other post
transcriptional mod is the addition of the 5 guanosine cap and the addition of the poly A tail
at the 3 end. After these modifications, the primary RNA becomes a mature mRNA.
Addition of methyl groups affects DNA packing and the binding of transcription factor
(general / specific) determines if transcription takes places or not. Gene amplification results
in multiple template of the gene so that more than one template can be used for transcription
at the same time. This result in high amount of mRNA produced in a short time.

4 The globin gene family in humans consists of the , and genes. These genes
code for the globin chains that make up haemoglobin and are expressed at
different levels during different developmental stages. The graph shows the
expression of the various globin chains during the prenatal (fetal) and postnatal
(after birth) periods.

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

Which of the following cannot account for the differences in the levels of
expression of globin chains?
A Methyl groups are added to regulatory sequences of -globin genes during
the postnatal period, allowing for some proteins to bind.
B Alternative splicing has occurred to form the mature mRNA of the -globin and
Birth
-globin genes, resulting in differences
in the rate of expression of globin
chains during the prenatal period.
C A growth factor triggers the expression of a transcription factor that increases
the rate of -globin gene expression during the postnatal period.
D The shortening of poly(A) tail in the mRNA of globin genes reduces its
stability, resulting in a decrease in the rate of expression of -globin chains
during the postnatal period.
Note: The , and genes indicates that 3 different genes codes for the 3 polypeptides.
100possible reason that cant account for the graph is alternative splicing as it
Hence the only
implies 3 protein being coded for by 1 gene. The 3 protein would consist of different
combination of exons (from the same gene) spliced together.
Globin
Chainsexperimental procedures is most likely to hasten mRNA
5 Which%ofofthe
following
degradation in a eukaryotic cell?

A
B
C
D

50 shortening of the poly(A) tail

enzymatic
Prenatal
methylation of C nucleotides
removal of the 5' cap
removal of one or more exons

Postnatal

Note: Normally removal of the 5cap takes place after the poly A tail have been shortened to
a critical length. Upon removal of the 5 cap the 5 exonucleases will rapidly degrade the
0
mRNA at the 5end.
Enzymatic shortening of the poly A tail will take a while depending on its
length. Hence removal
a drastic
effect8 than
0
2of the
4 5 6cap will
8 have
0
2
4
6
10 the
12shortening of the poly
A tail.
Age (months)

6 A geneticist introduces a transgene into yeast cells and isolates five independent
cell lines in which the transgene has integrated into the yeast genome. In four of
the lines, the transgene is expressed strongly, but in the fifth there is no
expression at all. Which is a likely explanation for the lack of transgene
expression in the fifth cell line?
A A transgene integrated into a heterochromatic region of the genome.
B A transgene integrated into a euchromatic region of the genome
C The transgene was mutated during the process of integration into the host cell
genome
D A transgene integrated into a region of the genome characterized by high
histone acetylation
Note: A transgene is a gene from a foreign species. In the heterochromatic region of the
genome, the DNA is tightly packed hence the promoter regions of gene cannot be accessed by
general transcription factors and RNA polymerase. This would repress gene transcription.
Histone acetylation will lead to looser packing of the chromatin.

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

7 Which of the following about eukaryotic control elements are correct?

1 attachment of RNA polymerase to promoter requires interaction with activator
proteins
2 attachment of activator proteins to enhancers increases the basal activity of
the promoter
3 attachment of activator proteins to silencers suppresses the basal activity of
the promoter
4 enhancers and silencers are DNA sequences usually found upstream of
structural genes and can regulate gene expression
A
B
C
D

2 and 4
3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
1, 3 and 4

Note: Attachment of activator proteins to enhancers stabilizes the formation of the

transcription initiation complex, hence increase the transcriptional rate of the gene.
8 The percentage of the human genome that is transcribed is larger than that
predicted based on the range of proteins made by the cell. Which of the following
accounts for the difference?
A Alternative splicing can result in more than one kind of protein produced from
one gene.
B Some genes are transcribed to produce RNA that is not meant to serve as a
template for protein synthesis.
C The enhancers present in the human genome are also transcribed to bring
about an increase in the transcription of protein-coding genes.
D The telomeric regions are also transcribed to give telomerase, which helps to
maintain the telomere length.
Note: Genes can also codes for rRNA and tRNA which serves a structural or enzymatic
function. rRNA can serve a structural function in the formation of the ribosome or an
enzymatic function eg peptidyl transferase in the ribosome. tRNA serves a structural function
in transporting specific amino acid in translation. Alternative splicing would lead to the
observation that more proteins are formed that the no. of genes (for polypeptide) present.
Enhancers and silencers (control elements) are never transcribed. Telomerase are coded for
by the gene for it. Telomerase functions to extend the ends of the DNA molecules.
9 Which of the following methods of regulating gene expression is common to both
prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
A Binding of proteins to control elements
B DNA methylation
C Histone acetylation
D Post-transcriptional modification of RNA

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

ACJC

Note: Some example of control elements in prokaryotes are promoter, operator, activator binding
regions. DNA methylation is present in prokaryotes but not for the purpose of gene control.
Rather they serve to protect its own DNA from degradation by distinguishing it from a viral
DNA. Exonuclease are present in bacteria to degrade viral DNA during infection. Prokaryote
have non histone proteins that functions in DNA packing. There is no post transcriptional
mod of RNA as transcription and translation takes place simultaneously due to a lack of
nuclear envelope.

Fig. 1 below shows the various parts of a gene.

Regulatory sequence 1Regulatory sequence 2

Promoter

Poly(A) addition
Termination
signal
sequence

I1

E1

E2

I2

E3

I3

E4

E = exon, I = intron
Fig. 1

a) State the terms used to describe regulatory sequence 1 and 2. [1]

Regulatory sequence 1

enhancer/distal control element ;

Regulatory sequence 2

proximal control element ; @ mark

b) State the functions of the following: [2]

Promoter
Exon

site where RNA polymerase binds ;

codes for a sequence of amino acids in a portion of a polypeptide;
@ 1 mark

c) Describe the role of regulatory sequence 1 in causing the gene to be expressed. [3]
1) Specific transcription factors (activators) bind to the enhancers ;
2) This recruits a DNA-bending protein which causes the DNA to bend;
3) Mediator proteins will bind to the bound activators, recruiting RNA polymerase and
general transcription factors;
4) forming the transcription initiation complex on the promoter;
5) transcription of gene at a high rate; @ 1 mark
Note: Point 1 to 4 details the immediate role of the enhance while point 5 describes its
ultimate role.
d) Explain what could happen to gene expression if a short sequence of DNA was inserted
into or near the
(i)
Promoter [2]
RNA polymerase may not be able to bind to the disrupted promoter;
and so gene becomes transcriptionally inactive / silenced ;

H2 Biology COPEG Extra Lesson

(ii)

ACJC

Poly(A) addition signal [2]

With the poly(A) addition signal disrupted, the mRNA formed does not have a poly(A) tail;
This decreases the stability of the mRNA/decreases its half-life/causes mRNA to be
degraded ;
Hence gene is less expressed ; @ 1 mark

Note: Scope of both questions relates to gene expression, hence answers must end by
addressing if the gene is transcribed or not and its rate of transcription if applicable.