Name __________________________________________
Date _____________
Period ______
Gene Regulation Introduction
Prior Knowledge Questions:
1. How do cells store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes?
2. How is genetic information expressed within a cell? In other words, what are the steps of
protein synthesis?
3. Discuss what you know about how transcription occurs within the nucleus of cells. Enzyme(s)
involved, differences between RNA and DNA, promoters, transcription factors.
4. Examine the simple diagram below, distinguish between anabolic and catabolic pathways.
Also, discuss two processes that can be regulated by cells which could conserve energy and/or
resources.
5. The diagram below shows allosterically regulated enzymes. We discussed these enzymes
during our unit on cellular metabolism. Understanding how this regulation works is helpful in
understanding how genes are regulated.
Identify the regulatory molecules in the diagram below.
Identify an active site in the diagram below.
Explain how binding of the activator or inhibitor regulates the protein.
What do the two vertical arrows that point in opposite directions between the proteins suggest?
What are the advantages of having cellular regulatory mechanisms as they relate to the overall
functioning of the organism?
Activator
Inhibitor
6. Use the word bank below to complete the diagram:
Signal molecule
Extracellular
RNA
Nucleus
Transduction
Membrane Receptor Protein
Cytoplasm
Phosphorylation Cascade
Reception
Active Transcription Factor
Explain how the diagram below relates to gene regulation:
Transcription Factor
DNA
Phosphate
Response