Central-Dogma
Central-Dogma
In molecular biology, central dogma illustrates the flow of genetic information from DNA to
RNA to protein. It is defined as a process in which the information in DNA is converted into a
functional product.
It is suggested that the information present in a DNA is essential to make up all proteins
and RNA acts as a messenger that carries information through the ribosomes.
Transcription
Transcription is the process by which the information is transferred from one strand of the
DNA to RNA by the enzyme RNA Polymerase. The DNA strand which undergoes this process
consists of three parts namely promoter, structural gene, and a terminator.
The DNA strand that synthesizes the RNA is called the template strand and the other strand is
called the coding strand. The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase binds to the promoter and
catalyzes the polymerization in the 3′ to 5′ direction.
As it approaches the terminator sequence, it terminates and releases the newly synthesized
RNA strand. The newly released RNA strand further undergoes post-transcriptional
modifications.
Also Read: Transcription
Translation
Translation is the process by which the RNA codes for specific proteins. It is an active process
which requires energy. This energy is provided by the charged tRNA molecules.
Ribosomes initiate the translation process. The ribosomes consist of a larger subunit and a
smaller subunit. The larger subunit, in turn, consists of two tRNA molecules placed close
enough so that peptide bond can be formed at the expense of enough energy.
The mRNA enters the smaller subunit which is then held by the tRNA molecules of the
complementary codon present in the larger subunit. Thus, two codons are held by two tRNA
molecules placed close to each other and a peptide bond is formed between them. As this
process repeats, long polypeptide chains of amino acids are synthesized.
Genetic Code
Genetic code contains the information of the protein manufactured from RNA. There are
basically three nucleotides and four nitrogenous bases, which collectively form a triplet codon
that codes for one amino acid. Therefore, the number of possible amino acids range to 4 x 4 x
4 = 64 amino acids. There are 20 naturally existing amino acids.
The genetic code degenerates. This was explained by the features of the genetic code, according
to which a few amino acids are coded by more than one codon thus causing them to degenerate.
Each codon codes for only one specific amino acid and the codes are universal irrespective of
the type of organism.
Out of the 64 codons, 3 are stop codons which stop the process of transcription and one of the
codons is an initiator codon i.e. AUG coding for Methionine