Transcript chapter14
From DNA to Protein
Chapter 14
14.1 DNA, RNA, and Gene Expression
What is genetic information and how does a cell
use it?
The Nature of Genetic Information
Each strand of DNA consists of a chain of four
kinds of nucleotides: A, T, G and C
The sequence of the four bases in the strand is
the genetic information
Converting a Gene to an RNA
Transcription
• Enzymes use the nucleotide sequence of a gene
to synthesize a complementary strand of RNA
DNA is transcribed to RNA
• Most RNA is single stranded
• RNA uses uracil in place of thymine
• RNA uses ribose in place of deoxyribose
adenine A
HC
NH 2
N CC N
N C N CH
guanine G
O
N CC
NH
HC
NC C
N NH
2
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
RNA
ribonucleic acid
nucleotide
base
sugar–
phosphate
backbone
cytosine C
NH 2
HC C N
HC
thymine T
N
N CC
N
HC
N C
CH
N
guanine G
O
N CC
NH
HC
NC C
N NH 2
NH 2
HC C N
HC N C O
base pair
CH 3 C C NH
HC N C O
Nucleotide
bases of DNA
NH 2
cytosine C
C O
O
adenine A
uracil U
O
HC C NH
HC N C O
DNA has one function: It
permanently stores a cell’s
genetic information, which
is passed to offspring.
RNAs have various
functions. Some serve
as disposable copies of
DNA’s genetic message;
others are catalytic.
Nucleotide
bases of RNA
Fig. 14-3, p. 217
RNA in Protein Synthesis
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
• Contains information transcribed from DNA
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
• Main component of ribosomes, where polypeptide
chains are built
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
• Delivers amino acids to ribosomes
Converting mRNA to Protein
Translation
• The information carried by mRNA is decoded
into a sequence of amino acids, resulting in a
polypeptide chain that folds into a protein
mRNA is translated to protein
• rRNA and tRNA translate the sequence of base
triplets in mRNA into a sequence of amino acids
Gene Expression
A cell’s DNA sequence (genes) contains all the
information needed to make the molecules of life
Gene expression
• A multistep process including transcription and
translation, by which genetic information encoded
by a gene is converted into a structural or
functional part of a cell or body
14.2 Transcription: DNA to RNA
RNA polymerase assembles RNA by linking
RNA nucleotides into a chain
A new RNA strand is complementary in
sequence to the DNA strand from which it was
transcribed
DNA Replication and Transcription
DNA replication and transcription both
synthesize new molecules by base-pairing
In transcription, a strand of mRNA is assembled
on a DNA template using RNA nucleotides
• Uracil (U) nucleotides pair with A nucleotides
• RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the
transcript
Base-Pairing in
DNA Synthesis and Transcription
The Process of Transcription
RNA polymerase and regulatory proteins attach
to a promoter
RNA polymerase moves over the gene in a 5' to
3' direction, unwinds the DNA helix, reads the
base sequence, and joins free RNA nucleotides
into a complementary strand of mRNA
Transcription
Fig. 14-5b, p. 219
Animation: Gene transcription details
14.3 RNA and the Genetic Code
Base triplets in an mRNA are words in a proteinbuilding message
Two other classes of RNA (rRNA and tRNA)
translate those words into a polypeptide chain
Post-Transcriptional Modifications
In eukaryotes, RNA is modified before it leaves
the nucleus as a mature mRNA
Introns
• Nucleotide sequences that are removed from a
new RNA
Exons
• Sequences that stay in the RNA
Alternative Splicing
After splicing, transcripts are finished with a
modified guanine “cap” at the 5' end and a polyA tail at the 3' end
Animation: Pre-mRNA transcript
processing
mRNA – The Messenger
Codon
• A sequence of three mRNA nucleotides that
codes for a specific amino acid
Genetic Information
From DNA to mRNA to amino acid sequence
Genetic Code
Genetic code
• Consists of 64 mRNA codons (triplets)
• Some amino acids can be coded by more than
one codon
Some codons signal the start or end of a gene
• AUG (methionine) is a start codon
• UAA, UAG, and UGA are stop codons
Codons of the Genetic Code
rRNA and tRNA – The Translators
tRNAs deliver amino acids to ribosomes
• tRNA has an anticodon complementary to an
mRNA codon, and a binding site for the amino
acid specified by that codon
Ribosomes, which link amino acids into
polypeptide chains, consist of two subunits of
rRNA and proteins
tRNA
14.4 Translation: RNA to Protein
Translation converts genetic information carried
by an mRNA into a new polypeptide chain
Translation
Translation occurs in the cytoplasm of cells
Translation occurs in three stages
• Initiation
• Elongation
• Termination
Initiation
An initiation complex is formed
• A small ribosomal subunit binds to mRNA
• The anticodon of initiator tRNA base-pairs with
the start codon (AUG) of mRNA
• A large ribosomal subunit joins the small
ribosomal subunit
Elongation
The ribosome assembles a polypeptide chain as
it moves along the mRNA
• Initiator tRNA carries methionine, the first amino
acid of the chain
• The ribosome joins each amino acid to the
polypeptide chain with a peptide bond
Termination
When the ribosome encounters a stop codon,
polypeptide synthesis ends
• Release factors bind to the ribosome
Elongation
C An initiator tRNA
carries the amino acid
methionine, so the first
amino acid of the new
polypeptide chain will be
methionine. A second
tRNA binds the second
codon of the mRNA (here,
that codon is GUG, so the
tRNA that binds carries
the amino acid valine).
A peptide bond
forms between
the first two
amino acids
(here, methionine
and valine).
Fig. 14-12c, p. 223
D The first tRNA is
released and the
ribosome moves to the
next codon in the mRNA.
A third tRNA binds to the
third codon of the mRNA
(here, that codon is UUA,
so the tRNA carries the
amino acid leucine).
A peptide bond
forms between the
second and third
amino acids
(here, valine
and leucine).
Fig. 14-12d, p. 223
E The second tRNA
is released and the
ribosome moves to the
next codon. A fourth
tRNA binds the fourth
mRNA codon (here, that
codon is GGG, so the
tRNA carries the amino
acid glycine).
A peptide bond
forms between the
third and fourth
amino acids (here,
leucine and
glycine).
Fig. 14-12e, p. 223
Termination
F Steps d and e are repeated over and
over until the ribosome encounters a stop
codon in the mRNA. The mRNA transcript
and the new polypeptide chain are
released from the ribosome. The two
ribosomal subunits separate from each
other. Translation is now complete. Either
the chain will join the pool of proteins in
the cytoplasm or it will enter rough ER of
the endomembrane system (Section 4.9).
Fig. 14-12f, p. 223
14.5 Mutated Genes
and Their Protein Products
If the nucleotide sequence of a gene changes, it
may result in an altered gene product, with
harmful effects
Mutations
• Small-scale changes in the nucleotide sequence
of a cell’s DNA that alter the genetic code
Common Mutations
Base-pair-substitution
• May result in a premature stop codon or a
different amino acid in a protein product
• Example: sickle-cell anemia
Deletion or insertion
• Can cause the reading frame of mRNA codons to
shift, changing the genetic message
• Example: Huntington’s disease
Common Mutations
Animation: Base-pair substitution
What Causes Mutations?
Transposable elements
• Segments of DNA that can insert themselves
anywhere in a chromosomes
Spontaneous mutations
• Uncorrected errors in DNA replication
Harmful environmental agents
• Ionizing radiation, UV radiation, chemicals
Mutations Caused by Radiation
Ionizing radiation damages chromosomes,
nonionizing (UV) radiation forms thymine dimers
Inherited Mutations
Mutations in somatic cells of sexually
reproducing species are not inherited
Mutations in a germ cell or gamete may be
inherited
Animation: Protein synthesis summary
Animation: Structure of a ribosome
Animation: Structure of a tRNA
Animation: Transcription
Animation: Uracil-thymine comparison