11/5/00 PHR912 Biochemistry- Exam III

Learning Objectives for Dr. Howard's lectures

Chapter 12: DNA replication and repair

1. Case study (handout)

a) Why chemotherapeutic agents work.

b) What are chemotherapeutic agents.

c) How the new generation of anticancer drugs and diagnostic tests differ from classical agents.

2. Chpt. 12,pg. 167-173. Please be able to define:

a) the process behind DNA replication.

b) the necessary components and enzymes for DNA replication.

c) where in the cell cycle does DNA replication occur.

3. DNA repair mechanisms, pg. 173-179:

a) Why is DNA repair important?

b) What is the etiology of cancer?

c) Where in the cell cycle does DNA repair occur?

Chapter 13: Transcription: Synthesis of RNA

1. Chpt. 13, pg. 183-198. Please be able to describe:

a) what transcription refers to? what enzymes and components are involved?

b) what are the main types of RNA.

c) where does transcription take place in eukaryotes? in prokaryotes?

d) what are the two main steps of regulation of message levels?

2. Case studies (Chpt. 13):

a) What are the main targets for the inhibition by the antibiotics Rifamycin B and a-amanitin?

b) Why aren’t antibiotics such as Norfloxacin or Rifamycin B used to stop viral infections? (Hint: biochemical comment at the back of Chpt. 13)

c) How does the lack of proofreading ability lead to cancer? AZT drug resistance?

d) What cells are affected in an inherited disease as in Annie Myck’s case versus an acquired disease as in the cases for Ivy Sharer or Colin Tuma?

Chapter 14: Translation: Protein Synthesis

1. Chpt. 14, pg. 199-214. Please be able to describe:

a) what are the characteristics of the genetic code?

b) what are the components required for aminoacylation? for translation?

c) where in the cell does translation occur? how does the function of the protein influence where it is synthesized in the cell?

3. Case studies (Chpt. 14):

a) Why do antibiotics work? What are the targets of action of the antibiotics discussed in the biochemical comment at the end of Chpt.14?

b) What type of mutation causes sickle-cell anemia? How does it affect the patient?

c) At what levels can mutations ultimately affect the levels of b-globin seen in b-thallesemia?

d) Why aren’t chemotherapeutic agents used to stop bacterial growth?

e) Why is diptheria toxin (from a bacterial virus) lethal in eukaryotes?