BIO 315H Chapter : LO Lectures 27 & 28-Euk gene regulation (2).pdf
Document Summary
While prokaryotes rely on relatively simple mechanisms to regulate gene expression, eukaryotes have developed very complex systems that allow them to adapt to varying conditions. However, the chromatin structure is highly dynamic in eukaryotes, constantly changing from loosely packaged form into highly packaged form or vise versa. Regulation of chromatin structure is the first level of regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Multicellular organisms also need genes that are expressed differentially across the entire body. Eukaryotes use transcription factors expressed in a tissue-specific manner to regulate gene expression differentially. As we discussed already to some extent, another form of diversity in gene expression in eukaryotes is rna processing. Alternative splicing or editing increases the number of proteins that can be coded by one gene. Often a single hnrna can be spliced to produce 100s of different forms of protein. One last aspect of eukaryotic post-transcription control is rnai. Rnas to direct the degradation of mrnas or regulate translation.
