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Lesson Notes-11.3 DNA, RNA and Proteins

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Lesson Notes-11.3 DNA, RNA and Proteins

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rsaifudein
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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11.

3 DNA, RNA and Proteins

Central Dogma of Biology:


Geneticists accept that the basic mechanism for reading and
expressing genes is from DNA to RNA to protein.
This is referred to as the central dogma of biology: DNA codes for
RNA, which guides the synthesis of proteins.

RNA:
RNA: ribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains ribose sugar and
has uracil base instead of thymine. It is a single stranded molecule.

There are three types of RNA:


1. Messenger RNA (mRNA): this is complementary to the
template DNA strand. It travels from nucleus to ribosomes to
direct protein synthesis.
2. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): associates with proteins to form
ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
3. Transfer RNA (rRNA): transport amino acids to the ribosome.

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A. Transcription:
First step of the central dogma involves the synthesis of mRNA from
DNA in a process called transcription.
Synthesis of mRNA from DNA. mRNA can take the code for protein
synthesis into the cytoplasm.

1) Unzipping of DNA into two separate strands:


-Template strand: used to make mRNA
-Non-Template strand: not used

2) RNA polymerase (an enzyme that regulates RNA synthesis)


binds to section of DNA and start RNA synthesis.
3) mRNA is synthesized by adding RNA nucleotides at the 3’ of
the DNA strand.
4) mRNA is built complementary to the DNA strand where Uracil
is put where there is A. The mRNA transcript is manufactured in
a 5’ to 3’ direction
5) mRNA is processed and moved out of the nucleus to the
cytoplasm.

RNA Processing: Introns are removed as these are the intervening


sequences. While exons are left as these are the coding sequences.
The original mRNA is called pre-mRNA (contain all of the DNA
code).
Another processing includes adding a protective cap on the 5’ end and
adding a poly-A tail (many adenine nucleotides) to the 3’ end.The cap
aids in ribosome recognition, poly-A tail stabilizes the mRNA.
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B. Translation: is the process by which the code is read and
translated to make a protein.
We have 20 different amino acids used in making proteins.
The DNA code is a three-base code called the codon.
Each codon codes for an amino acid except three codons that are
called the 3 stop codons and they code for the end of protein
synthesis.
Stop codons are: UAA, UAG, and UGA.
Codon AUG is a start codon and it codes for methionine amino
acid and this codes for the start of protein synthesis.

Steps of translation:
1) The 5’ end of the mRNA connects to ribosome (ribosome is
made of rRNA)
2) tRNA will come carrying amino acid and start reading codons.
3) tRNA will look for complementary bases on mRNA and then
transfer the corresponding amino acid. (The middle of the folded
tRNA contains an anticodon, a complementary sequence to the
mRNA codon.
4) Amino acids will be transferred one after another to build
together a protein by a process called protein synthesis.
5) Till we reach a stop codon on the mRNA, the synthesis will
stop.
Note that though the DNA and RNA is read 5’ to 3’, the anticodon is
read 3’ to 5’.

Note: there might be more than one codon coding for the same amino
acid example UCU and AGU both code for serine amino acid. There
are 64 (4x4x4) possible codes.

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The dictionary of the genetic code is helpful for knowing which
codons code for which amino acids.
We read from inside to outside.

The figure below summarizes all the steps in transcription and


translation and protein synthesis:

Remember: Transcription then Translation then Protein synthesis.


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Note: In eukaryotes, transcription happens in nucleus and translation
happens in cytoplasm.
In prokaryotes both happen in cytoplasm since there is no nucleus.

The role of ribosome:


The ribosome consists of two subunits: large and small. Once the
mRNA is associated with the ribosome, tRNA carrying anticodon
CAU and carrying methionine will move and bind to mRNA start
codon AUG.
The ribosome has 3 sites: A-P-E
A site: is where first tRNA attaches
P site: peptide site where tRNA holds the growing amino acid chain
E site: exit site where amino acid is released and exit the ribosome

One Gene—One Enzyme


The Beadle and Tatum experiment showed that one gene codes for
one enzyme.
We now know that one gene codes for one polypeptide.

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