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AAT Bioquest

What are the major differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression?

Posted August 25, 2022


Answer
Prokaryotic gene expressionEukaryotic gene expression
Prokaryotic gene expression is the mechanism of synthesizing a gene in relation to the information encoded in prokaryotic genesprocess of synthesizing a functional gene product depending on the information on eukaryotic genes
Occurs in the cytoplasmTranscription occurs in the nucleus and translation occurs in the cytoplasm
Prokaryotic DNA is not in permanently condensed formForms a stable condensed complex with histones present
Transcription and translation occur at the same timeTranscription and translation occur at slightly different times
Uses a single RNA polymerase  Uses RNA polymerase I, II, and III
Introns don’t interfere with the open reading frameIntrons interfere with the open reading frame
Contain three promoter elements: one upstream towards the gene, one 10 nucleotides downstream, and one 35 nucleotides downstreamUses the TATA box as its promotor element
Does not include post-transcriptional modificationsIncludes post-transcriptional modifications
Prokaryotic genes occur in operonsEukaryotic genes occur individually
Additional resources

Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

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