Housekeeping genes

Definition

Housekeeping genes are genes that are constitutively expressed to maintain basic cellular functions necessary for the survival of a cell. They are typically involved in fundamental processes such as metabolism, cell structure maintenance, and DNA repair.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Housekeeping genes are essential for the basic functioning and maintenance of cellular activities.
2. They are usually expressed at relatively constant levels across different tissues and conditions.
3. Examples include genes encoding ribosomal proteins, enzymes involved in glycolysis, and actin.
4. Mutations in housekeeping genes can lead to severe cellular dysfunction or lethality.
5. The expression levels of housekeeping genes are often used as controls in gene expression studies.

Review Questions

Related terms

Constitutive Expression:

A type of gene expression where a gene is continuously transcribed without regulatory control.

Ribosomal Proteins: Proteins that form an essential part of ribosomes, which are critical for protein synthesis.

Glycolysis:

A metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.