1. Acetylation of key proteins is known to correlate with the gene expression in eukaryotes. What class of chromatin proteins is modified? What is the chemical nature of the acetylation that accounts for the alternation in a physical/structural sense? What features/interactions of DNA are altered? How could one detect segments of DNA in genes that were altered due to this phenomenon? What is the link between the modification and DNA sequence specificity? Be as specific as possible.
2. Compare and contrast gene expression in eukaryotes vs. prokaryotes from the standpoint of promoter sequences, complexes and RNA polymerase(s). What features are present in each that are distinct? What proteins, other than RNA polymerases are involved? What is known about the mechanism and ordering of gene expression in eukaryotes that makes it distinct from prokaryotic systems? Be specific, complete and structurally oriented in your answer as possible, given the level at which relevant topics are discussed in the text!
3. Gene inactivation correlates with methylation of DNA. What are the chemical/structural features of this process? How do pleuripotent cells differ from tumor cells in terms of the degree of methylation? Can you rationalize these differences in terms of known biochemical processes thought to be involved in the normal elimination of cells for the benefit of the organism?