Nucleic Acids Metabolism
(Genetics)
Gene Expression (Protein Biosynthesis)
[Transcription and Translation]
Translation
Dr. Fahad_Sabir©
ARU-MBBS
2nd Y- S2
2022
From DNA to Trait
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How Are Different Types of Cells Created and
Maintained?
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How Are Different Types of Cells Created and
Maintained?
By differential Gene Expression:
How?
The same genetic
information is in all 100 trillion
cells of any person, but
different cells use the same
blueprint in different ways.
In Fact, the control of gene 4
Gene Expression
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Gene Expression
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The “Central Dogma” of Biology
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The “Central Dogma” of Biology
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RNAs
RNA is single stranded, not double
stranded like DNA
RNA is short, only 1 gene long, where DNA is
very long and contains many genes
RNA uses the sugar ribose instead of
deoxyribose in DNA
RNA uses the base uracil (U) instead of
thymine (T) as in DNA.
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RNAs
RNA is a nucleic acid that uses a slightly
different sugar than DNA and the base
uracil (U) in place of thymine (T). 10
RNAs
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RNAs
Recently, a new class of RNA, microRNA, has been shown to 12
Transcription and Translation in
Eukaryotes
In a eukaryotic cell,
the nuclear
envelope separates
transcription from
translation.
Extensive RNA
processing occurs
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Transcription and Translation in
Eukaryotes
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Translation
Translation is the RNA-directed synthesis of
a polypeptide chain (Protein).
Translation involves:
mRNA.
Ribosomes - Ribosomal RNA.
Transfer RNA.
Genetic coding – codons.
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The Genetic Code
Genetic information is encoded as a
sequence of non-overlapping base
triplets, or codons.
Codons: 3 bases code for the production
of a specific amino acid.
Since there are 4 bases and 3 positions in
each codon, there are 4 x 4 x 4 = 64
possible codons.
64 codons but only 20 amino acids,
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The Genetic Code
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The Genetic Code
3 of the 64 codons are used as STOP
signals; they are found at the end of every
gene and mark the end of the protein
One codon is used as a START signal: it is
at the start of every protein.
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The Genetic Code
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5-GGUCAUUGAUGAACGUAUUUCAAUGACCC-3
MET-ASN-VAL-PHE-GLN-STOP
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Transfer RNA
A single RNA strand that is only about 80
nucleotides long
Has a specific amino acid on one SIDEand
anticodon on the other SIDE.
Brings the amino acids to the ribosomes.
The “anticodon” is the 3 RNA bases that
matches the 3 bases of the codon on the
mRNA molecule
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Transfer RNA
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Ribosomes
Ribosomes facilitate the specific coupling of
tRNA anticodons with mRNA codons during
protein synthesis.
The 2 ribosomal subunits are constructed of
proteins and RNA molecules (ribosomal RNA
or rRNA)
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Ribosomes
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Building a Polypeptide
We can divide translation into three stages
Initiation – Elongation – Termination.
The AUG start codon is recognized by Met-
tRNA.
Once the start codon identified, the ribosome
incorporates amino acids into a polypeptide
chain
RNA decoded by tRNA, which each transport
specific amino acids to the growing chain 25
Translation: Initiation
The initiation stage of translation brings
together mRNA, tRNA bearing the first amino
acid of the polypeptide, and two subunits of
a ribosome
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Translation: Initiation
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Translation: Elongation
In the elongation stage, amino acids are
added one by one to the preceding amino
acid
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Translation: Elongation
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Translation: Termination
The ribosome reaches a stop codon in the
mRNA, there is no corresponding transfer
RNA.
Instead, a small protein called a “release
factor” attaches to the stop codon, causes
the whole complex to fall apart: messenger
RNA, the two ribosome subunits, the new
polypeptide.
The messenger RNA can be translated many
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Translation: Termination
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Post-translation Modifications
The new polypeptide is now floating loose
in the cytoplasm if translated by a free
ribosome.
It might also be inserted into a membrane, if
translated by a ribosome bound to the
endoplasmic reticulum.
Polypeptides fold spontaneously into their
active configuration.
Sometimes other molecules are also
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Post-translation Modifications
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