DNA and Protein synthesis
Nucleotide structure Structure diagrams
Made up of nitrogen base, phosphate and deoxyribose sugar
Bases are adenine , guanine , thymine and cytosine
Nucleotides are held together by phosphodiester bond which is
formed between C3 and phosphate
DNA: Deoxyribose sugar
DNA structure RNA: Ribose sugar
Nucleic acid made up of nucleotides
Nucleotides are added together by phosphodiester bond to form two polynucleotide
strands (Sugar phosphate backbone)
The two strands are held together by complementary base pairing by hydrogen bonds
Adenine pair up with thymine
Guanine pair up with cytosine
The two strands run opposite to each other called anti-parallel
A strand runs from 5’ to 3’ while the other runs from 3’ to 5’
DNA twists forming double helix which protect bases Anti parallel Double helix
Base pairing
The bases are classified into purine and pyrimidine
Purine: Bases that are made up of 2 rings like adenine and guanine
Pyrimidine: Bases that are made up of 1 ring like cytosine, thymine and uracil
Adenine and thymine/uracil pair up with 2 hydrogen bonds
Guanine and cytosine pair up with 3 hydrogen bonds
Base pairing
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DNA and Protein synthesis
DNA replication
The whole DNA molecule unwinds by DNA helicase enzyme
By breaking down hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs
Both strands act as templates
Free activated DNA nucleotides are added to old strands
By complementary base pairing by hydrogen bonds
DNA polymerase add DNA nucleotides step by step (one after one)
DNA polymerase add DNA nucleotides from 5’ to 3’ so the strand 5’ to 3’ will always be the leading strand while
the other strand will be lagging as the DNA polymerase will add nucleotides in the replication fork in the
opposite direction of unwinding
Then helicase unwinds another part of DNA so DNA polymerase in the lagging strand will add nucleotides
forming Okazaki fragments together
DNA ligase then adds the new nucleotides together by phosphodiester bonds forming sugar phosphate
backbone also joins the okazaki fragments
Forming two identical DNA molecules
This process is called semi-conservative DNA replication
Each DNA molecule contains 1 old strand and 1 new strand
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DNA and Protein synthesis
Transcription
Part of the DNA molecule unwinds by DNA helicase enzyme (Gene part)
By breaking down hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs
Only 1 strand is involved (Sense strand)
Free activated RNA nucleotides are added to the unwinded area (gene)
By complementary base pairing by hydrogen bonds
RNA polymerase add RNA nucleotides step by step (one after one)
New RNA nucleotides are joined together forming sugar phosphate backbone
Forming pre-mRNA
Pre-mRNA is then modified by removing the non coding areas called introns
and leaving the exons forming mature mRNA
Translation
mRNA leaves nucleus through nuclear pore, moves through cytoplasm and attaches to the small subunit of ribosome
Each 3 bases on mRNA are called codon and code for a specific amino acid
2 codons are bound to the ribosome at the same time (6 bases)
Amino acid activation in the cytoplasm occurs so specific tRNA with specific anticodon carry a specific amino acid to the
ribosome
tRNA has three binding sites in the ribosome (A site , P site and E site)
Specific tRNA binds with the codon by complementary base pairing by hydrogen bonds
AUG is always the start codon and codes for methionine
Another tRNA binds to the other codon bound to the ribosome
Both tRNAs hold the amino acids closely
Forming peptide bond by condensation reaction
This reaction is catalysed by peptidyl transferase
The empty tRNA is then reused and ribosome moves on mRNA till translates all codons
Until reaching stop codons which are UAA , UAG and UGA
The ribosome stops translation and releases the polypeptide into the RER
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Important questions
Describe the role of ribosome in translation? Features of genetic material:
Describe the role of mRNA in translation? Universal :
Same as translation The triplet that codes for a specific amino acid codes for
the same amino acid in all living organisms
What is the role of tRNA in translation? Degenerate :
Amino acid activation at cytoplasm The single amino acid is coded by more than one codon as
Carries specific amino acid to the ribosome there is 61 codon for 20 amino acid and 3 stop codons, so
Has anticodon complementary to codon on mRNA more than one codon for an amino acid
Complementary base pairing between codon and anticodon
Has three binding sites within the ribosome Not overlapping :
Only 2 bound to the ribosome at the same time Each triplet is made up of 3 bases so no base can be in
Both holds amino acids closely to each other more than on triplet
Forming peptide bond by condensation reaction
tRNA is then reused Sickle cell anaemia:
Caused by base substitution mutation in beta globin
Importance of hydrogen bonding in DNA? In the sixth triplet
Holds both polynucleotide strands together Changed from CTT to CAT
By complementary base pairing Changed from glumatic acid to valine
Gives stability So different primary structure
Forms double helix and give the 3D structure of the molecule R-group changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic
Can be easily broken for transcription or DNA replication So different tertiary structure
Can be easily reformed after transcription or DNA replication So became insoluble and stick together forming fibres
What is base substitution consequence ? ATP structure:
Altered DNA triplet
So transcription of altered codon so altered mRNA Ribose as pentose sugar
So different tRNA with different anticodon coding for different amino acid Adenine as nitrogen base (Purine)
with different R-group 3 Phosphates
Different primary structure Adenosine= adenine + ribose
Thus different tertiary structure as different R-groups interaction Phosphorylated nucleotide
Different globular shape (If enzyme so different active site shape) Adenosine triphosphate
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Key differences
DNA RNA
Double stranded Single strand
Forms a double helix Not a helix
Deoxyribose sugar Ribose sugar
Thymine base (A-T) Uracil base (A-U)
Has hydrogen bonds No hydrogren bonds (except tRNA)
Base pairing No base pairing
Longer in length Shorter in length
One type Three types
DNA replication Transcription
All DNA molecule unwinds Part of DNA unwinds
DNA polymerase RNA polymerase
Free DNA nucleotides Free RNA nucleotides
Both strands act as a template Only 1 strand act as a template
DNA molecules are formed mRNA is formed
Two DNA molecules One mRNA molecule
Take place in S-phase Take place through interphase
Important for cell division Important for protein synthesis
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