Question

You are investigating the regulation of the eukaryotic fledermaus gene (fm). Analysis of many types of data have indicated that the gene products listed below are all involved in regulating the expression of fm.

For each gene product, state the most likely mechanism by which it regulates expression of fm and whether it most likely inhibits the gene, activates the gene, or whether there is insufficient information to say.

1. The gene sequence of this protein shows that it has a very similar structure to known DNA methyltransferases.

Mechanism:

Most likely:

2. ChIP-seq analysis shows that this protein binds to a sequence located ~100 bp upstream of the fm

Mechanism:

Most likely:

3. This protein is known to bind to the UTR of fm

Mechanism:

Most likely:

4. This RNA, discovered in an RNA-seq screen, is only 23 nucleotides long and is complementary to a sequence in the 3’UTR of fm

Mechanism:

Most likely:

5. This protein has been shown by other labs to add acetyl groups to histones.

Mechanism:

Most likely:

Answer 1

1.The protein if it acts as methyltransferase and can transfer the methyl group to the DNA.As it transfers the methyl group than the gene function can be inhibited.

2.If it binds just 100bp upstream only then it can act as protein that binds to cis upstream control elements like enchancer so it can intiate gene function or even can inhibit it by acting as inhibitor protein.

3.The RNA most probably is an sirna as it has around 23 nucleotide and complementary sequence.So it might serve as si- RNA.When fm RNA is transcribed it is most probably inhibited by this si RNA.

4.It acts the acetyl groups by the presence of acetyl transferases activities so the DNA gets seprated from its chromatin.So promoter gets visible to RNA polymerase so it activitates gene function.