Module 1 : INTRODUCTION

Lecture 1 : Role of Genes within Cells, Genetic Code etc.


1-1.6 Control of gene expression:

Fig1-1.6: Points of control of gene expression

The eukaryotic gene expressions in a cell are controlled at about six stages as shown in the figure 1-1.6.

  • Transcriptional control decides when and how frequently a given gene be transcribed. It enables the cell to check any discrepancy in the quantity of transcriptomes generated.

  • RNA processing regulates how the RNA transcript is spliced or otherwise processed. (applicable only to eukaryotes), which have split genes consisting of exons and introns.

  • Translational control decides which mRNAs in the cytoplasm are to be translated by ribosomes.

  • mRNA degradation control selectively destabilize some mRNA molecules in the cytoplasm.

  • Protein activity control selectively activates, inactivates, degrades, or compartmentalizes specific protein molecules after they have been synthesized. (applicable only to eukaryotes)