Teachable Tidbit: Teachable Tidbit: Gene ExpressionGene Expression

Venu Cheriyath, TAMU Commerce

Jeff Kopachena, TAMU Commerce

Christie Landry, Nicholls State University

Michelle Thiaville, Nicholls State University

FACILITATORS:

Amy Briggs

Elizabeth Eich

LEARNING GOALLEARNING GOAL• Students will know how environmental factors

influence transcription.

LEARNING OUTCOMELEARNING OUTCOME• Construct a diagram of how an environmental

factor can result in changes in gene expression that changes cellular function

What causes altitude sickness?

How does your body recover from altitude

sickness?

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ACTIVITY 1:

• Gather into groups• Collect an envelope containing word strips• Arrange the molecular events in the order

that they occur in the cell• You have 5 minutes…GO!

Review the strip sequence of the groups having the same color strips as you.

•DO YOUR SEQUENCES MATCH?

Activity 2:

• Pair with a group that has a different color strip sequence than yours.

• Compare your strip sequences. – Which color group comes first?

Strip Sequence Order1. Low oxygen environment is encountered2. Body detects hypoxic condition, and

kidney interstitial fibroblasts initiate response to low oxygen tension

3. Stabilization of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) occurs, and it is translocated into the nucleus

4. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) binds to Erythropoietin (EPO) gene promoter

5. Erythropoietin gene is transcribed6. Erythropoietin mRNA is translated7. Erythropoietin protein is exported from

the cell

1. Erythropoietin (EPO) binds to Erythropoietin Receptor (EPO-R) on Erythrocyte Progenitor Cells

2. Erythropoietin (EPO) binding induces conformational changes to occur in Erythropoietin Receptor (EPO-R)

3. Activation of Janus Kinase (JAK) occurs4. Janus Kinase (JAK) activates its

substrate, STAT5, a transcription factor5. Activated STAT5 translocates into the

nucleus6. STAT5 binds to promoter elements of

proliferation-inducing genes 7. Expression of proliferation-inducing

genes8. Increased production of Red Blood Cells

Activity 2:

• In your combined color groups:– Based on the projected template, draw the sequence

of events represented in both strip sequences

• Post your finished diagram on the wall or board.

• You have 5 minutes…GO (again)!!

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EPO

HOMEWORK:

• Using the following potential environmental exposures, draw a picture showing how gene transcription would be initiated/affected by the exposure.

• Be prepared to present your drawing in the next class period.

Steroid Mimetics (Group 1 & 2) Pesticides (Group 3 & 4) Photoperiod (Group 5 & 6) Nutrient deficiency (Group 7 & 8) Inflammation/Injury (Group 9 & 10)