Genetic Code Na SY-) aN etoH le By: Miss Asfia RazaWhat is Genetic code??? * Genetic code is a dictionary that corresponds with sequence of nucleotides and sequence of amino acids. + Genetic code is a set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material(DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins by living cells. + Term given By " Goerge Gamow "DISCOVERY + To understand how proteins are encoded began after the structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick. * George Gamow postulated that a three-letter code must be employed t encode the 20 standard amino acids used by living cells to build proteins.Introduction of genetic code The letters A,G,T and C correspond to the yes nucleotides found in DNA. They are wr. organized into codon. The collection of codons is called Genetics code. w ae For 20 amino acids there should be 20 codons. sxe Each codon should have 3 nucleotides to impart anu specificity to each of the amino acid for a | = specific codon, o 1 nucleotide — 4 combinations 2 nucleotide-16 combinations 3nucleotide- 64 combinations( most suited for 20 amino acids ) aThe Genetic Code LsGenetic code can be expressed in a simple table with 64 entries — ‘wons0q Pr.Codon and its type Genetic code is a Dictionary consists of “Genetic words” called CODONS. Each codon consists of three bases (triplet) There are 64 codons. 61 codons code for 20 amino acids found in protein. 3 codons do not code for any amino acid.| Type of codon © Sense Codons > Signal Codons + Start codons + Stop codons. > Sense codon:- The codon that code for amino acid are called sense codon. Signal codon:- Those codons that code for signal during protein synthesis are called signal codons. For Example: AUG, UAA, UAG & UGA > There are Two types of signal codons ‘Terminating Codon Initiating Codon.“Terminating Codons” UAA, UAG & UGA are termination codons or nonsense codons & are often referred to as amber, ochre & opal codons “Tnitiating codon” AUG is the initiation codon. It codes for the first amino acid in all proteins. At the starting point it codes for methionine in eukaryotes & formyl methionine in prokaryotes.ANTICODO) + The base sequence of t RNA which pairs with codon of mRNA during translation is called anticodon. IRINA anticoden loop: i ‘ Wobble position 3 [ale S Lu | clwome s ‘Codon 3 mRNADifferent between codon and anticodon. * Codon could be present in both DNA & RNA, but anticodon is always present in RNA & never in DNA. Codons are written in 5 to 3 direction whereas anticodons are usually written in 3 to 5 direction. * Anticodon of some tRNA molecules have to pair with more than one codon.CONTI.... Codons are sequentially arranged in nucleic acid strand while anticodons are discretely present in cells with amino acids attached or not. Codon defines which anticodon should come next with an amino acid to create the protein strand. Anticodon helps in bringing a particular amino acid at its proper position during translation.paOrIAKnRYNS Characteristic of the genetic code . Triplet code Comma less . Nonoverlapping code . The coding dictionary . Degenerate code . Universality of code . Non ambiguous code . Chain inition code . Chain termination codons“Genetic code is triplet” + The genetic code is triplet. There are 64 codons. Thier (B0<0 S0<0 0<] 20<0 een, 8 BEbs 8898 8898 cHasisda {Post aut e ‘ai iz Aas Nauainge egies neg“Universality” * The genetic code is universal. * AUG is the codon for methionine in mitochondria. The same codon (AUG) codes for isoleucine in cytoplasm. With some exceptions noted the genetic code is universal. “ Non-Ambiguous” + The genetic code is non-ambiguous. + Thus one codon can not specify more than one amino acid.“Non-overlapping” One base cannot participate in the formation of more than one codon This means that the code is non-overlapping. “Continuous Translation” The gene is transcribed & translated continuously from a fixed starting point to a fixed stop point. Punctuations are not present between the codons.“The code has polarity” + The code has a definite direction for reading of message which is referred to as polarity. + Reading of message from left to right & right to left will specify for different amino acids. + For Example UUG stands for leucine, & from right to left it is GUU which stands for valine.+ An amino acid can be coded for by more than one codon. This is called degeneracy of genetic code. eineWobble hypothesis | * Crick postulated the ‘wobble hypothesis’ to account for the degeneracy of genetic code. According this hypothesis, the first two bases of a codon pair according to the normal base pairing rules with the last two bases of the anticodon. Base-pairing at the third position of a codon is wobble Wobble Hypothesis << cwWobble hypothesis explains degeneracy + Wobble hypothesis explains the degeneracy of the genetic code, i.e, existence of multiple codons for a single amino acid. Although there are 61 codons for amino acids, the number of tRNA is far less (around 40)which is due to wobbling.Biological significance of degeneracy of the genetic code + Ifthe code were not degenerate, 20 codons would designated amino acids and 44 would lead to chain termination. * The probability of mutating to chain termination would therefore be much higher with a non degenerate code.FLOW OF GENETIC INFORMATION | PEO aa) meee | 7. [RNa] Sc¥anaceancunuvanuans ip | x PEPTIDE ¥CLINIC SIGNIFICANCE + Mutation can be well explained using the genetic code. * A) Point Mutations 1) Silent 2) Misense 3) Nonsense + B) Frame shift mutationslent Mutations * Single nucleotide change-A to G, same amino acid is incorporated. Mutation goes unnoticed.Missense mutations | + Single nucleotide change A to C- different amino acid incorporated. Loss of functional capacity of protein.Non sense Mutation | * Single nucleotide change from C to T, stop codon is generated (In m RNA represented by UAG), premature termination of chain, may be incompatible with life.Frame shift Mutation * Insertion or removal of a bases can alter the reading frame with the resultant incorporation of different amino acids.