分子生物学 03 chromosome structure.pptVIP

Chapter 03： Chromosome structure A general principle is evident in the organization of all cellular genetic material. It exists as a compact mass, confined to a limited volume; and its various activities, such as replication and transcription, must be accomplished within this space. The organization of this material must accommodate transitions between inactive and active states The condensed state of nucleic acid results from its binding to basic proteins. The positive charges of these proteins neutralize the negative charges of the nucleic acid. The structure of the nucleoprotein complex is determined by the interactions of the proteins with the DNA (or RNA) DNA must be compressed exceeding tightly（DNA double helix→a much more compact form）。 1 prokaryotic chromosome structure Prokaryotes are the simplest living cells, there are no distinct subcellular organelles to compartmentalize different parts of the metabolism； Nucleoid:the region in a prokaryotic cell that contains the genome. The DNA is bound to proteins and is not enclosed by a membrane.It has a very high DNA conentration(~10mg/mL),contains all the proteins or RNAs associated with DNA； plasmids DNA-binding proteins HU: a small dimeric protein, positively charged, binds DNA nonspecifically by the wrapping of the DNA around the protein → maybe plays some general role in nucleoid condensation H-NS(histone-like proteins): a monomeric neutral protein, binds DNA, preferentially with sequences that are bent → maybe has effect on the local topology of DNA, with effects upon gene expression that depend upon the particular promoter 1.1 properties of prokaryotic chromosome genome small； Genes are naked； Most sequences encode genetic information； Regulation units of gene expression -- operons； overlapping genes Operon: a regulation unit of prokaryotic gene expression which includes co-ordinately regulated structural genes and control elements (promoter, operator)which are recognized by regulatory products overlappin