EUKARYOTIC TRANSCRIPTION

(DEC 2015)

1. α-Amanitin is a fungal toxin which inhibits eukaryotic RNA polymerases. The

three eukaryotic RNA polymerases show differential sensitivity to this toxin.

Which one of the following order (higher to lower) is correct in respect of

sensitivity towards α-amanitin ?

(1) RNA POL III > RNA POL II > RNA POL I

(2) RNA POL II > RNA POL III > RNA POL I

(3) RNA POL I > RNA POL III > RNA POL II

(4) RNA POL II > RNA POL I > RNA POL III

(DEC 2011)

2. α-amanitin inhibits

(1) only RNA polymerase I

(2) mainly RNA polymerase II

(3) only RNA polymerase III

(4) all RNA polymerases

(JUNE 2007)

3. Which of the following compound is capable to inhibit transcription

elongation, both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

(1) Rifamycin (2) a-amanitin

(3) Streptomycin (4) Actinomycin-D

(JUNE 2007)

4. Among the following which statement is correct regarding the

promoter of the eukaryotic gene?

(1) It is always located upstream of transcription start site

(2) It is located downstream of translation start site

(3) Different promoter elements are recognized by different RNA

polymerase

(4) Promoters are recognized due to their different secondary structures

(JUNE 2023-II)

5. In eukaryotic genes, DNA sequences that define gene promoters

occur:

(1) only in the regions upstream of the transcription start sites.

(2) only in the regions that represent the transcribed parts of the genes.

(3) only in the regions downstream of the transcription termination sites.

(4) either in the regions upstream of the transcription start site or within the

transcribed regions of the gene.

(JUNE 2017)

6. In eukaryotes, precursors of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering

RNAs (siRNAs) are usually synthesized by

(1) RNA Pol I and III, respectively

(2) RNA Pol III and I, respectively

(3) Only RNA Pol I

(4) Only RNA Pol II

(DEC 2017)

7. A highly specific inhibitor that targets the phosphorylation activity of

TFIIH is added to an in vitro transcription reaction. Which one of the following

steps is most likely to be affected?

(1) Binding of RNA polymerase to promoter sequence

(2) Promoter clearance

(3) Recruitment of TFIID

(4) Open promoter complex formation

(DEC 2018)

8. Whit h one of the following statement. is generally true shout RNA

polymerase II?

(1) It is dedicated to transcribing RNA from a single transcription unit, generally

a large transcript. which is then processed to yield three types of ribosomal

RNA.

(2) It transcribes varieties of small non- coding RNAs which are expressed in all

cell types.
(3) It generally synthesizes various types of mRNAs and small non-coding RNAs.

(4) It is exclusively involved in synthesis of rRNA and tRNA

(DEC 2016)

9. Which of the following are NOT transcribed by RNA polymerase II?

(1) miRNA and some snRNA (2) miRNA and snoRNA

(3) mRNA and snoRNA (4) tRNA and 5S Rrna

(NOV 2020-II)

10. Given below are four sentences with blanks (labeled X, Y, Z and L).

A. RNA Pol I transcribes X.

B. miRNA genes are transcribed by Y.

C. The RNA polymerase found only in plants is Z.

D. tasiRNAs are synthesized by L.

Which one of the following options would present the combination of all terms

(in the order X, Y, Z and L) to complete the above sentences correctly

(1) X-mRNAs; Y-RNA Pol II; Z-RNA pol IV; L-RNA Pol III

(2) X-tRNAs; Y-RNA Pol III; Z-RNA pol V; L-RNA Pol I

(3) X-45S rRNA; Y-RNA Pol II; Z-RNA pol V; L-RNA Pol II

(4) X-18S rRNA; Y-RNA Pol V; Z-RNA pol IV; L-RNA Pol I

(DEC 2017)

11. tRNA genes of a Gram positive bacteria were sequenced. While some

of the genes possessed sequence corresponding to the -CCA end of the

tRNA, others did not. Interestingly, even the genes that lacked the sequence

corresponding to the -CCA end of the tRNA were found to code for a

functional tRNA. This is because

(1) the -CCA end in the tRNA is not essential for its function.

(2) the genes that do not possess sequence corresponding to the -CCA ends of

the tRNA are repaired prior to their transcription.

(3) the -CCA end is added to the tRNA during their maturation.

(4) the primary transcripts of the genes lacking sequence corresponding to the -

CCA end are subjected to g-RNA mediated editing prior to their maturation.

(FEB 2022-I)
12. In bacteria many of the tRNA genes do not contain the CCA sequence
found at the 3' end of tRNA. In this context which one of the following
statements represents the correct explanation?
(1) In these tRNAs amino acylation occurs at the 3' end of the tRNA
irrespective of the presence of the CCA sequence.

(2) CCA sequence is added to these tRNA transcripts in

a DNA template independent manner.

(3) These tRNAs exploit the process of trans- splicing to include a CCA
sequence at their 3' end.

(4) The absence of CCA sequence occurred only in the last common ancestor
(LCA) during the course of evolution and the current day tRNA genes always
possess a sequence to encode the CCA end of the tRNA.

(NOV 2020-II)
13. The following statements are related to transcription in bacteria and
eukaryotes.
A. During concurrent promoter sequence recognition and melting, melting
commences with base flipping where two bases are flipped out into pockets of
the primary sigma factor
B. Binding of a-amanitin to RNA polymerase II permits entry of nucleotides into
RNA pol II active site and synthesis of RNA, but prevents translocation

C. RNA polymerase I can use upstream promoters with 3 consensus sequences,

as well as internal promoters having a bipartite structure
D. FACT is associated with RNA polymerase during transcriptional elongation
and helps displace histone octamers during transcription
Which of the following combinations of statements represents all correct
statements?
(1) A, B and C (2) A, B and D
(3) B, C and D

(4) B and C only

(DEC 2014)
14. Small nucleolar RNAs used to process and chemically modify rRNAs are called
(1) ScaRNAs (2) SiRNAs
(3) SnoRNA (4) SnRNAs

(DEC 2015)
15. Enlisted below are different types of RNAs produced in the cell (Column A) and
their functions (Column B), but not in the same order.

Column A Column B
A. Sn RNAs (i) turn off gene expression by directing degradation of selective mRNAs.
B. si RNAs (ii) regulate gene expression by blocking translation of selective mRNAs.
C. mi RNAs (iii) function in a variety of processes including splicing of pre-Mrna
D. Sno RNAs (iv) used to process and chemically modify rRNAs.

Choose the correct combination

(1) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii (2) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv
(3) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii (4) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv

(DEC 2010)
16. Which eukaryotic RNA polymerase transcribes t-RNA genes?
(1) RNA polymerase I (2) RNA polymerase II
(3) RNA polymerase III (4) DNA polymerase I

(DEC 2009)
17. Promoters for RNA polymerase III are located at
(1) +1 to +10
(2) -35 to -10
(3) With in transcribed sequence
(4) More than 100 by upstream

(JUNE 2011)
18. Genetic studies demonstrated that TBP mutant cell extracts are
deficient in transcription of genes from all three promoters viz. class I, II
and III. Following statements describe characteristic features of TBP.
(A) TBP is considered as an universal basal transcription factor.
(B) TBP is not required for transcription of archaeal genes.
(C) TBP is involved in recognizing TATA box.
(D) TBP operates at all promoters regardless of their TATA content.
Which of the following combinations is NOT correct?
(1) A and D (2) C and D
(3) B and D (4) A and C

(JUNE 2023-II)
19. Which one of the following statements about TATA Binding Protein (TBP) is
NOT true?
(1) It is a component of transcription factor TFIID.
(2) TBP recognizes the TATA element by inserting one of its α-helices into the
major groove of DNA.
(3) The TBP-DNA interaction causes the DNA to bend.
(4) The TBP-DNA interaction is governed in part by the intercalation of the side
chains of phenylalanine residues of TBP between the base pairs at the two ends
of the TATA element sequence.

(JUNE 2015)
20. In order to study the transcription factor TFIIH. It was cloned from a
large number of human subjects. Surprisingly, the subject having mutation
in TFIIH, also showed defects in their DNA repair system
Given below are the explanations:
A DNA damage is always associated with transcription inhibition.
B TFIIH has no role in DNA repair
C In mammalian system, TFIIH plays an active role in transcription coupled
DNA repair process
D. Because of mutation in TFIIH, transcription initiation is inhibited and
incompletely synthesized mRNAs remain attached to the template DNA
leading to DNA damage.
Choose the correct answer.
(1) A and B (2) C only
(3) B and D (4) D only

(SEPT 2022-I)
21. The initiation of transcription is a complex process involving promoter
recognition, conversion of the initiation complex from closed to open
form, abortive initiation events, and finally promoter escape. The
following statements are made regarding these steps in transcription
initiation:
(A) Promoter escape in bacteria is usually accompanied by the release of
the sigma factor from the RNA polymerase holoenzyme complex.
(B) Abortive initiation events in prokaryotes result in the formation of
 short transcripts ~10 nucleotides in length while such events in
eukaryotes result in formation of transcripts ~75 nucleotides in length.
(C) Promoter escape in eukaryotes is accompanied by the phosphorylation
of the RNA polymerase large subunit on its C-terminal domain (CTD).
(D) Promoter recognition in bacteria is governed by the sigma factor which
binds to the -10 and -35 region of the promoter followed by recruitment of
the RNA Pol II core enzyme to form the holoenzyme.
Which one of the following options represents the combination of all correct
statements?

(1) A and C only (2) B and D only.

(3) A, C and D (4) A and D only.

(JUNE 2013)
22. A non-enzymatic viral protein X was found to be inducing a cellular
gene promoter activity. Although no in vitro DNA binding activity could be
identified with X protein, it was found to be co-recruited on the cellular
promoter along with a cellular transcription factor in vivo. Which one of the
following statements seems to be the best interpretation of the above
findings?
(1) X is a DNA-binding protein.
(2) X physically interacts with the transcription factor.
(3) X modifies the chromatin for transcription activation.
(4) X is a chaperone.

(DEC 2019)
23. Following statements were made with respect to transcription in
eukaryotes:
A. RNA polymerase III synthesizes mRNAs in the nucleoplasm
B. The target promoter for RNA polymerase Ill is usually represented by a
bipartite sequence downstream of the transcription start site.
C. The assembly factors TFIIIA and TFIIIC assist the binding of the positioning
factor TFIIIB at the precise location.
D. TFIIIB is the last factor that joins the initiation complex.
E. Phosphorylated Ser residues in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA
polymerase II serve as binding sites for mRNA processing enzymes.
Which one of the following options represents the correct combination of the
statements?
(1) A, B and C (2) B, C and E
(3) B, D and E (4) A, C and E
(DEC 2016)
24. In mammals CG rich sequences are usually methylated at C, which is a
way for making genes for silencing. Although the promoters of housekeeping
genes are often associated with CpG islands yet they are expressed in
mammals. Which one of the following best explains it?
(1) Methylation of cytosine does not prevent the binding of RNA Pol II with
the promoter, so housekeeping genes are expressed.
(2) During housekeeping gene expression, the enzyme methyl transferase is
temporarily silenced by miRNA, thus shutting down global methylation.
(3) Unlike within the coding region of a gene, CG rich sequences present in the
promoters of active genes are usually not methylated.
(4) As soon as the Cytosine is methylated in the promoter region, the
enzymes of DNA repair pathways remove the methyl group, thereby ensuring
gene expression.

(JUNE 2017)
25. Scientists usually find difficulty in identifying the exact transcription
termination site in eukaryotes because
(1) immediately following termination of transcription, the 3' end is
polyadenylated
(2) The 3' end is generated by cleavage prior to actual termination of transcription
(3) Poly A binding proteins present at 3' end of transcript hides the termination site
(4) 3' end of transcript is complexed with 5' end for initiation of translation

(JUNE 2009 )
26. Which is correct for termination of transcription in eukaryotes?
(1) Terminates prior to polyadenylation site
(2) Terminates during polyadenylation site
(3) Terminates after polyadenylation site
(4) Forms hair pin loop termination

(JUNE2012)
27. Regulatory elements for expression of ribosomal RNA genes resides in the
(1) transcribed spacer region
(2) non-transcribe spacer region
(3) 5’ flanking region of individual ribosomal genes
(4) internal regions within the genes
(FEB 2022-I)
28. Which one of the following schematics depicts the potential relationship
among the subunits IIo, IIa, and IIb of RNA polymerase II

ANSWER KEY:

1-2 11 - 3 21 - 1
2-2 12 - 2 22 - 2
3-4 13 - 2 23 - 2
4-3 14 - 3 24 - 3
5-4 15 - 2 25 - 2
6-4 16 - 3 26 - 3
7-2 17 - 3 27 - 2
8-3 18 - 3 28 - 1
9-4 19 - 2
10 - 3 20 - 2