Bacterial Genome Organization — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: The _____ enables bacterial RNA polymerase to recognize promoter regions on the DNA

Answer: sigma factor

Extra: Bacterial RNA Polymerase: - **Core enzyme** (α₂ββ'ω): Responsible for RNA synthesis (elongation). - **Holoenzyme** (Core + **σ factor**): The **σ factor** (sigma factor) provides specificity, enabling the enzyme to recognize and bind to **promoter** sequences (-10 and -35 regions) to initiate transcription.

Flashcard 2: _____ strains of bacteria will take plasmids and incorporate them into their cellular DNA

Answer: High frequency

Flashcard 3: _____ describes a transposon of bacterial DNA that can "jump" from one location to another (ie: bacterial DNA or even a plasmid)

Answer: Transposition

Flashcard 4: _____ -toxin genes are typically not part of a chromosome, and instead are encoded by plasmids and bacteriophages

Answer: Exo

Flashcard 5: When high frequency strains of bacteria undergo _____, they transfer their bacterial genome with the plasmid to the recipient

Answer: conjugation

Flashcard 6: _____ bacterial DNA transduction occurs when a lytic phage infects the bacterium

Answer: Generalized

Flashcard 7: _____ bacterial DNA transduction occurs when a lysogenic phage infects the bacterium

Answer: Specialized

Flashcard 8: Which 5 bacterial toxins depend on lysogenic conversion (phage-encoded) for their production? 1. _____ 2. Botulinum Toxin 3. Cholera Toxin 4. Diphtheria Toxin 5. Shiga-like Toxin

Answer: Group A strep Erythrogenic toxin (causes scarlet fever)

Extra: Mnemonic: **ABCD'S** **A** - Group **A** strep erythrogenic toxin **B** - **B**otulinum toxin **C** - **C**holera toxin **D** - **D**iphtheria toxin **S** - **S**higa-like toxin (EHEC)