This set of Molecular Biology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “How Is the Beginning of a Gene Recognized”.
1. What is the consensus sequence of the Pribnow box?
a) TATATA
b) TATAAT
c) TAATA
d) TTAAT
View Answer
Explanation: The Pribnow box is also known as the –10 promoter site. It was first recognized by Pribnow in 1975. It has a consensus sequence of TATAAT.
2. The Pribnow box is present on the coding strand of the DNA template.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The Pribnow box or the –10 sequence is present in the sense strand of DNA duplex. The sense strand is also known as the non – coding strand. It also harbors the other two conserved sequences for polymerase binding.
3. The –35 sequence is highly conserved and has a consensus sequence of ___________
a) TGACAA
b) TCGAA
c) TGCAAC
d) TTGACA
View Answer
Explanation: The –35 sequence is highly conserved in efficient promoters and has a consensus sequence of TTGACA. The first three positions of this hexameric sequence are mostly conserved.
4. The +1 site of conserved promoter sequence is generally a pyrimidine.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The +1 site of conserved promoter sequence is the transcription start site and is 90% purine. “A” is more common than “G” and often have “C” and “T” on its either side.
5. –10, – 35 and +1 sites are the consensus promoter sites of sigma factor ______________
a) σ70
b) σ32
c) σ54
d) σ28
View Answer
Explanation: Different sigma factors recognize different promoter sites. As σ70 sigma factor is the most common sigma factor the highly studied –10, – 35 and +1 sites of promoter belongs to it.
6. The RNA polymerase core enzyme has a high specificity for promoter sites and can perfectly work alone.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The RNA polymerase core enzyme has a high non – specific affinity for DNA. This is referred to as ‘loose binding’ and is not stable. Addition of σ factor converts the RNA polymerase core protein into a holoenzyme and also increases its specificity by 100 folds.
7. The complex formed by the polymerase and the promoter DNA is known as the _____________
a) λ complex
b) γ complex
c) Open complex
d) Closed complex
View Answer
Explanation: At the promoter the polymerase recognizes the –35 and the –10 sequence and tightly binds to it. The initial complex of the polymerase with the base paired promoter DNA is referred to as a closed complex.
8. Negative supercoiling enhances the rate of transcription.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Negative supercoiling enhances the rate of transcription of many genes. This is because it facilitates the unwinding of the DNA duplex by the RNA polymerase.
9. The –10 promoter region is rich in ______________ bases.
a) A, G
b) C, T
c) A, T
d) C, G
View Answer
Explanation: The –10 promoter region is rich in A, T bases. It has a consensus sequence of TATAAT and is also known as the Pribnow box. The presence of A and T is significant because the unwinding of DNA starts at this site and AT base parts melt easily than the GC base pairs.
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