Question

There is one gene that controls leaf shape in holly leaves. a). If leaf shape is controlled by epigenetic markers, how might epigenetic patterns differ between smooth and prickly leaves? b) Suppose instead the one gene controlling leaf shape is transcribed in exactly the same amount in prickly leaves as in smooth leaves, how might RNA processing cause the protein's shape to differ between smooth and prickly leaves?

Answer 1

ANSWER )

EPIGENETIC MARKER INCLUDE THE DNA METHYLATION, COVALENT MODIFICATION OF HISTONE PROTEIN SUCH AS METHYLATION, UBIQUITINYLATION AND PHOSPHORYLATION IN THE HISTONE TAIL. THESE ACT AS EPIGENETIC MARKER WHICH INFLUENCE THE GENE FUNCTION. FOR EXAMPLE IN CASE OF HOLLY GENE THE CYTOSINE METHYLATION IN GENE SEQUENCE LEAD TO THE PRICKLY LEAVES FORMATION COMPARED TO THE HOLLY GENE OF SMOOTH LEAVES. THIS INDICATE METHYLATION AS AN EPIGENETIC PATTERN THAT LEAD TO DIFFERENCE IN SMOOTH AND PRICKLY LEAVES

POST TRANSCRIPTIONAL MODIFICATION INCLUDE RNA PROCESSING WHICH MAKES DIFFERENCE IN THE LEAVE SHAPE. AS IN THE CASE HERE ALSO THE RNA AMOUNT FOR BOTH SMOOTH AND PRICKLY LEAVES ARE SAME BUT RNA PROCESSING SUCH AS SPLICING CAN ALLOW THE FUNCTIONAL PROTEIN FORMATION OF ONE WHILE IN CASE OF OTHER IT COULD BE NON FUNCTION PROTEIN DUE TO DEFAULT SPLICING OR THE OTHER CASE WOULD BE RNA GENOME EDITING WHICH ALLOW SILENCING OR DEGRADATION OF PARTICULAR RNA .