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Related Concept Videos

What is Gene Expression?01:42

What is Gene Expression?

Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
What is Gene Expression?01:36

What is Gene Expression?

A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised  of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then processed and...
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the addition of a...

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Processing of Primary Brain Tumor Tissue for Stem Cell Assays and Flow Sorting
08:14

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Published on: September 25, 2012

Control of stochasticity in eukaryotic gene expression.

Jonathan M Raser1, Erin K O'Shea

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California-San Francisco (UCSF), 600 16th Street, Room S472D, San Francisco, CA 94143-2240, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 29, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Gene expression noise, or random fluctuations, causes cell variability. This noise is gene-specific and can evolve, balancing cellular fidelity and diversity.

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Single-cell Gene Expression Profiling Using FACS and qPCR with Internal Standards
10:50

Single-cell Gene Expression Profiling Using FACS and qPCR with Internal Standards

Published on: February 25, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Cellular behavior can vary due to random fluctuations (noise) in gene expression.
  • Understanding the sources and implications of gene expression noise is crucial in molecular biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify intrinsic noise in eukaryotic gene expression.
  • To investigate the factors influencing gene expression variability.
  • To explore the evolutionary potential of gene expression noise.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified differences in expression between two alleles in diploid cells to measure intrinsic noise.
  • Developed a model linking promoter activation and transcription to messenger RNA (mRNA) variability.
  • Identified cis- and trans-acting mutations affecting gene expression noise.

Main Results:

  • Gene expression noise is gene-specific and independent of regulatory pathways or expression rates.
  • A model was proposed where promoter activation and transcription balance influences mRNA variability.
  • Mutations altering noise were identified, supporting noise as an evolvable trait.

Conclusions:

  • Intrinsic gene expression noise is a gene-specific characteristic.
  • The balance between promoter activation and transcription is a key factor in mRNA level variability.
  • Gene expression noise is an evolvable trait that can be optimized for cellular adaptation, balancing consistency and diversity.