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Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus, and DNA is located in the cytoplasm. Ribosomes attach to the mRNA as it is being transcribed from DNA. Thus, transcription and translation occur simultaneously. In eukaryotic cells, the DNA is located in the nucleus, and ribosomes are located in the cytoplasm. After being transcribed, pre-mRNA is processed in the nucleus to make the mature mRNA, which is then exported to the cytoplasm where ribosomes become associated with it and translation begins.
Prokaryotic transcription and translation occur simultaneously in the cytoplasm, and regulation occurs at the transcriptional level. Eukaryotic gene expression is regulated during transcription and RNA processing, which take place in the nucleus, and during protein translation, which takes place in the cytoplasm. Further regulation may occur through post-translational modifications of proteins.

The differences in the regulation of gene expression between prokaryotes and eukaryotes are summarized in [link] . The regulation of gene expression is discussed in detail in subsequent modules.

Differences in the Regulation of Gene Expression of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms
Prokaryotic organisms Eukaryotic organisms
Lack nucleus Contain nucleus
DNA is found in the cytoplasm DNA is confined to the nuclear compartment
RNA transcription and protein formation occur almost simultaneously RNA transcription occurs prior to protein formation, and it takes place in the nucleus. Translation of RNA to protein occurs in the cytoplasm.
Gene expression is regulated primarily at the transcriptional level Gene expression is regulated at many levels (epigenetic, transcriptional, nuclear shuttling, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational)

Evolution connection

Evolution of gene regulation

Prokaryotic cells can only regulate gene expression by controlling the amount of transcription. As eukaryotic cells evolved, the complexity of the control of gene expression increased. For example, with the evolution of eukaryotic cells came compartmentalization of important cellular components and cellular processes. A nuclear region that contains the DNA was formed. Transcription and translation were physically separated into two different cellular compartments. It therefore became possible to control gene expression by regulating transcription in the nucleus, and also by controlling the RNA levels and protein translation present outside the nucleus.

Some cellular processes arose from the need of the organism to defend itself. Cellular processes such as gene silencing developed to protect the cell from viral or parasitic infections. If the cell could quickly shut off gene expression for a short period of time, it would be able to survive an infection when other organisms could not. Therefore, the organism evolved a new process that helped it survive, and it was able to pass this new development to offspring.

Section summary

While all somatic cells within an organism contain the same DNA, not all cells within that organism express the same proteins. Prokaryotic organisms express the entire DNA they encode in every cell, but not necessarily all at the same time. Proteins are expressed only when they are needed. Eukaryotic organisms express a subset of the DNA that is encoded in any given cell. In each cell type, the type and amount of protein is regulated by controlling gene expression. To express a protein, the DNA is first transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins. In prokaryotic cells, these processes occur almost simultaneously. In eukaryotic cells, transcription occurs in the nucleus and is separate from the translation that occurs in the cytoplasm. Gene expression in prokaryotes is regulated only at the transcriptional level, whereas in eukaryotic cells, gene expression is regulated at the epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels.

Questions & Answers

distinguish between anatomy and physiology
Amina Reply
Anatomy is the study of internal structure of an organism while physiology is the study of the function/relationship of the body organs working together as a system in an organism.
adeyeye
distinguish between anatomy and physiology
Erny Reply
regional anatomy is the study of the body regionally
Ismail Reply
what is the meaning of regional anatomy
Aminat Reply
epithelial tissue: it covers the Hollow organs and body cavities
Esomchi Reply
in short way what those epithelial tissue mean
Zainab Reply
in short way what those epithelial tissue mean
Chizoba
What is the function of the skeleton
Lilias Reply
movement
Ogar
Locomotion
Ojo
support
Aishat
and body shape/form
Aishat
what is homeostasis?
Samuel Reply
what's physiology
AminchiSunday Reply
what is physiology
AminchiSunday
physically is the study of the function of the body
Najaatu
that is what I want ask
YAU
u are wright
YAU
pls what are the main treatment of hiccups
YAU
physiology is the study of the function of the body
Najaatu
hiccups happen when something irritates the nerves that course your diaphragm to contract
Najaatu
how did hypothalamus manege to control all activities of the various hormones
malual
what is protein
Abdulsalam
how can I treat pain a patient feels after eating meals
Namuli Reply
how do I treat a three year old baby of skin infection?
Okocha Reply
It depends on the type of infection. Bacterial, fungal, parasitic or viral?
schler
if you can share the sign ad symptoms of the skin infection then u geh the treatment cox they're different sign ad symptoms of skin infection with different treatment
Sa
the sign and symptoms of maleria
Abdulsalam
prostaglandin and fever
Maha Reply
yes
rayyanu
welcome sir
rayyanu
prostaglandin E2 is the final mediator.
Lemlem
prostaglandin E2 is the final mediator of fever.
Lemlem
yes
Agabi
good evening
Jediel
tissue.
Akoi
explain
Chizoba
Hi
Anya
,good evening
Anya
Discuss the differences between taste and flavor, including how other sensory inputs contribute to our  perception of flavor.
John Reply
taste refers to your understanding of the flavor . while flavor one The other hand is refers to sort of just a blend things.
Faith
While taste primarily relies on our taste buds, flavor involves a complex interplay between taste and aroma
Kamara
which drugs can we use for ulcers
Ummi Reply
omeprazole
Kamara
what
Renee
what is this
Renee
is a drug
Kamara
of anti-ulcer
Kamara
Omeprazole Cimetidine / Tagament For the complicated once ulcer - kit
Patrick
what is the function of lymphatic system
Nency Reply
Not really sure
Eli
to drain extracellular fluid all over the body.
asegid
The lymphatic system plays several crucial roles in the human body, functioning as a key component of the immune system and contributing to the maintenance of fluid balance. Its main functions include: 1. Immune Response: The lymphatic system produces and transports lymphocytes, which are a type of
asegid
to transport fluids fats proteins and lymphocytes to the blood stream as lymph
Adama
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Source:  OpenStax, Gene expression (gpc). OpenStax CNX. Mar 13, 2014 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11638/1.1
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