Question
Epigenetic therapies can target cancer through “viral mimicry,” in which a form of this molecule accumulates in the cytoplasm and triggers an antiviral immune response even in the absence of virus. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this molecule whose double-stranded form is sensed by RIG-I and MDA5. Transcription produces this molecule, including its “messenger” form.
ANSWER: RNA [or ribonucleic acid; accept double-stranded RNA or dsRNA; accept messenger RNA or mRNA]
[10m] Cells undergoing viral mimicry produce interferons, which activate the JAK family of these enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group.
ANSWER: kinases [accept JAK kinases or Janus kinases or just another kinase]
[10h] Viral mimicry-inducing nucleic acids are often derived from transposons like endogenous retroviruses and this member of the SINE family, which makes up 11 percent of the genome and is derived from 7SL RNA.
ANSWER: Alu elements [or Alus; accept inverted repeat-Alus or IR-Alus]
<Biology>
Summary
| 2024 ACF Winter at Lehigh | 2024-11-16 | Y | 7 | 17.14 | 100% | 57% | 14% |
| 2024 ACF Winter at Ohio State | 2024-11-16 | Y | 1 | 20.00 | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| 2024 ACF Winter at UBC | 2024-11-16 | Y | 1 | 10.00 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Data
| Bard A | Penn B | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Haverford A | Johns Hopkins B | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Columbia A | Penn A | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Penn State A | Johns Hopkins A | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Princeton A | Penn State B | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Columbia B | Rowan A | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Rutgers A | Lehigh A | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |