This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison.
What is gene ontology?
Gene ontology (GO) is a comprehensive, computational model of biological systems[1]. It is a large initiative to create a database of the current knowledge of gene functions across many different organisms[2]. The gene ontology covers three main topics: biological process, molecular function, and cellular component.
Biological Process
The larger processes or "biological programs" that are accomplished by multiple molecular activities. The biological process is not the same as a pathway.
Molecular Function
The molecular-level activities performed by the products of the gene. Molecular functions generally correspond to activities performed by individual gene products, but some activities are performed by complexes.
Cellular Component
The locations relative to cellular structures that the gene product performs its function. These can be cellular compartments or stable macromolecular complexes.
The larger processes or "biological programs" that are accomplished by multiple molecular activities. The biological process is not the same as a pathway.
Molecular Function
The molecular-level activities performed by the products of the gene. Molecular functions generally correspond to activities performed by individual gene products, but some activities are performed by complexes.
Cellular Component
The locations relative to cellular structures that the gene product performs its function. These can be cellular compartments or stable macromolecular complexes.
What are the GO terms of LCT?
Cellular Component
LCT gene products (lactase) are localized to the cellular membrane of cells within the intestinal track. Lactase is a transmembrane protein, meaning it is anchored within the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. The portion with enzymatic activity faces outside the cell, into the small intestine. |
Conclusions
LCT produces gene products which comprise the enzyme lactase. LCT is involved in the biological process of polysaccharide digestion. The molecular function is lactase, which hydrolyzes glycosyl bonds. The gene products are localized to the cellular membrane of the intestinal track. All of the GO terms contribute to the understanding of how LCT mutations can cause disruptions in the breakdown of the disaccharide lactose, resulting in intestinal problems.
References
[1] Ashburner et al. (2000, May). Gene ontology: tool for the unification of biology. Nature Genetics. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10802651
[2] The Gene Ontology Consortium. (2019, January). The Gene Ontology Resource: 20 years and still GOing strong. Nucleic Acids Res. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30395331
Header image: singularityhub.com/2018/07/10/new-dna-synthesis-method-could-soon-build-a-genome-in-a-day/#sm.00000s7r5mbvwbf0erdd2pz3ay503
[1] Ashburner et al. (2000, May). Gene ontology: tool for the unification of biology. Nature Genetics. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10802651
[2] The Gene Ontology Consortium. (2019, January). The Gene Ontology Resource: 20 years and still GOing strong. Nucleic Acids Res. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30395331
Header image: singularityhub.com/2018/07/10/new-dna-synthesis-method-could-soon-build-a-genome-in-a-day/#sm.00000s7r5mbvwbf0erdd2pz3ay503