Lecture 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression

Personal Genomics
o Differences between individual genomes:
Can explain phenotypic differences between us
Can serve as DNA markers for mapping
Can serve as DNA markers for identification
o Screening genomes for a set of DNA markers is very efficient and affordable
o Sequencing an individuals entire genome is becoming increasingly efficient and
affordable
Genetically engineered organisms synthesize a wide range of biological and

pharmaceutical products
o Synthetic human insulin was originally produced in bacteria
o Genetic engineering can facilitate vaccine production
Genetic engineering of plants has revolutionized agriculture
o Genetic engineering can enhance nutritional value
o Golden Rice has enhanced levels of beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency results in blindness and is prevalent in many areas of

Asia and Africa

Personalized Medicine Through Gene Therapy
o Gene Therapy involves transferring specific genes into mammalian cells to treat
genetic disorders
o A normal gene is transferred into a somatic cell with one or more mutant genes
o Expression of the normal gene results in a functional gene product whose action

produces a normal phenotype

Ethical Issues Around Gene Therapy
o Could genetic screening lead to genetic discrimination?
o Is it appropriate to apply gene therapy technologies for genetic enhancement?
Regulation of Gene Expression
o Mutation of the coding sequence of a gene can alter protein function
o Also, mutation of the non-coding sequences that regulate a gene can alter protein
production
o To understand the impact of these mutations, it is essential to understand how

genes are regulated

How do organisms respond to changing environmental conditions?

o One mechanism of response is to regulate expression of mRNA from genomic

DNA
How do prokaryotes respond to changing environmental conditions?
o Inducible System
Under normal circumstances, its off; need to add something to turn it on
o Repressible System
Under normal circumstances, its on; need to add something to turn it off
Cis-acting vs. Trans-acting
o Cis-acting Element
DNA sequence that regulates expression of a gene located nearby (on the
same chromosome)
E.g. a promoter, operator
o Trans-acting Element
Factors (usually proteins) that control gene expression through a cis

element
E.g. transcription factor, repressor
Gene regulation is more complicated in eukaryotes
o Gene expression has to be regulated in amount, timing, and location
o Gene regulation can occur at many stages in eukaryotes
Eukaryotic gene regulation at level of cis-acting elements
o Promoters are adjacent to genes
Specify basal expression of genes
o Enhancers are farther away
Eukaryotic gene regulation at level of trans-acting elements
o Trans-acting elements bind to cis-acting elements
Enhancers can act at a distance to influence transcription