MEDAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Gene Expression and Cell Differentiation

Submitted as One of the Requirements for Passing

Biology Cell Courses

By :

Fadhillah Rahma Purba (4193342004)

BESP 2019

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

MEDAN

2021
 Gene Expression and Cell Differentiation

Gene expression is the process by which information stored in DNA is used to produce
functional gene products. Gene products are proteins or noncoding RNAs, such as tRNA and
rRNA, which play an important role in protein synthesis, but do not code for proteins. Gene
expression is regulated throughout the lifespan of an individual cell to control cell functions,
such as its metabolic activity. Gene expression plays an important role in the morphological
changes that occur in the developing embryo and fetus and in the differentiation of stem cells to
form specialized cells.

Expression of protein-coding genes is regulated in several steps, including 1)

transcription of DNA to form RNA, 2) processing of RNA products, 3) translation of mRNA to
produce proteins, and 4) post-translational modification of protein-coding genes. protein
products. This activity introduces students to controls that interact directly with DNA to regulate
transcription of genes into mRNA by RNA polymerase, the enzyme that links ribonucleotides
together to form RNA.

Transcription is regulated by changes in DNA and related histone proteins that affect
DNA condensation and by proteins called transcription factors. This transcription factor
functions as an activator or repressor of transcription. The activator increases the binding of
RNA polymerase to the gene promoter, thereby increasing the rate of transcription. The repressor
binds to or near the promoter and interferes with RNA polymerase activity.

Gene expression is regulated by cell extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Cell extrinsic factors
that regulate expression include environmental cues, such as small molecules, secreted proteins,
temperature, and oxygen. These cues can come from other cells in the organism, or they can
come from the environment of the organism. Within organisms, cells communicate with one
another by sending and receiving secreted proteins, also known as growth factors, morphogens,
cytokines, or signaling molecules. The reception of these signaling molecules triggers an
intercellular signaling cascade that ultimately leads to semi-permanent changes in transcription
or gene expression. Changes in gene expression can include turning the gene on or off
completely, or only slightly changing the level of the resulting transcript. This process is thought
to regulate a large number of cell behaviors, including cell fate decisions during embryogenesis,
cell function, and chemotaxis.

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 Although differentiation is not thought to occur with permanent loss of genetic material,
DNA can be modified in ways that affect gene expression. For example, DNA and related
histone proteins (together known as chromatin) can be chemically modified by the cell's own
machinery. Chromatin modification can affect gene expression by altering gene accessibility to
transcription factors, either positively or negatively. The two main classes of chemical
modification include DNA methylation and histone modifications (methylation and/or
acetylation). These changes are often described as epigenetic because they do not act to change
the primary DNA sequence but act at a level just above the DNA sequence. Although DNA
methylation and histone modification are not genetic, cells have mechanisms to copy this
epigenetic information during their division so that their daughter cells contain the same
regulatory data.