Biochemistry · USMLE Step 1

USMLE Molecular Biology: Transcription and Translation

Transcription, RNA processing, and translation machinery tested on USMLE Step 1.

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Which eukaryotic RNA polymerase synthesizes ribosomal RNA (28S, 18S, and 5.8S)?
RNA polymerase I
Which eukaryotic RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA and most snRNA?
RNA polymerase II
Which eukaryotic RNA polymerase synthesizes tRNA and 5S ribosomal RNA?
RNA polymerase III
Alpha-amanitin inhibits which RNA polymerase?
RNA polymerase II
What mushroom is the source of the RNA polymerase II inhibitor alpha-amanitin?
Amanita phalloides (the death cap mushroom)
What eukaryotic promoter element, located about 25 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site, helps position RNA polymerase II?
TATA box
What upstream eukaryotic promoter element, located roughly 75 base pairs upstream of the start site, helps regulate transcription frequency?
CAAT box
What chemical structure is added to the 5' end of eukaryotic pre-mRNA during processing?
A 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap
What enzyme adds the poly-A tail to the 3' end of pre-mRNA?
Poly-A polymerase
What consensus sequence signals the site of cleavage and polyadenylation on pre-mRNA?
AAUAAA
What structure removes introns from pre-mRNA?
The spliceosome
What are the RNA-protein complexes that make up the spliceosome called?
snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins)
During pre-mRNA splicing, the ____ adenine attacks the 5' splice site to form a lariat intermediate.
branch point
What two-nucleotide consensus sequence marks the 5' splice (donor) site of an intron?
GU
What two-nucleotide consensus sequence marks the 3' splice (acceptor) site of an intron?
AG

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