Help with DNA Repair Processes - GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

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Question

What is translesion DNA synthesis?

Answer

Translesion DNA synthesis is a technique used by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The main purpose of translesion DNA synthesis is to bypass lesions encountered during DNA replication (commonly thymine dimers or AP sites). Translesion DNA synthesis is not exclusive to the mitochondria, nor does it create specialized RNA molecules.

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Question

Which of the following DNA repair mechanisms would be employed by the cell to repair DNA damage from UV light?

Answer

UV light causes the formation of thymidine dimers. A thymidine dimer is two thymine molecules that dimerize and cannot be recognized by the DNA transcription machinery, which would cause a mutation in the gene if the dimerization occurs on a gene.

Base excision repair and direct reversal only work on individual bases on the DNA molecule. Nucleotide excision repair cuts out a section of damaged DNA and repolymerizes the molecule, as would be required in this case.

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Question

If a double strand break (DSB) is not repaired during G1 phase of the cell cycle, what type of replication error would result during S phase at the site of the DSB?

Answer

Unrepaired doublestrand breaks will result in collapse of the DNA fork because the replication fork cannot continue beyond the area that has the doublestrand break. The other answers require the presence of at least one continuous strand of DNA.

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Question

What term best describes when RNA polymerase binds promoters and synthesizes and releases short mRNA transcripts in cycles before the RNA holoenzyme leaves the promoter?

Answer

The correct answer is abortive initiation. This is a normal transcription event is found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and occurs prior to promoter clearance, or the event when RNA polymerase escapes the promoter and begins elongation of synthesized transcripts. Abortive initiation is thought to occur when the RNA polymerase complex is not stable enough on the DNA. DNA scrunching describes the mechanism by which RNA polymerase transcribes, rather than RNA polymerase moving along DNA, it actually pulls DNA into the complex and unwinds it.

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Question

Branched nucleic acid structures containing 4 double-stranded arms that are intermediates in genetic recombination and DNA repair are best known as?

Answer

The correct answer is Holliday junction. These intermediates in genetic recombination have symmetrical sequence and are mobile to preserve specific base pairing at recombination and damage loci. Repair enzymes recognize and subsequently localize to this DNA structure to facilitate locus specific enzymatic activity.

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