Chapter 13 The Genetic Code and Transcription Flashcards
The genetic code is…
written
mRNA molecules act as …
letters
They have complementary bases
Triplet codons…
specify one amino acid (mRNA)
Unambiguous
triplet= 1 amino acid
Degenerate
amino acid specified by more than 1 triplet
“start” and “stop” signals
The genetic code is…
unambiguous degenerate one start and three stop nonoverlapping nearly universal
Jacob and Monad-
Early studies establishing basic operational patterns of the genetic code
1961- hypothesized mRNA
What is mRNA?
intermediate in transferring genetic information
How can 4 nucleotides encode 20 amino acids?
triplet code
Triplet nature of the code…
64 codons specify 20 amino acids
Reading frame…
sequence of nucleotides encoding a polypeptide
Crick and colleagues:
acridine dye- induce DNA mutations into a T4 phage
Frameshift mutations…
change reading frame
Brenner and colleagues - nonoverlapping code
-genetic code reads 3 nucleotides at a time in a continuous, linear manner
During translation, the genetic code is…
nonoverlapping
Nirenberg and Matthei
characterize coding sequences
Nirenberg and Matthei utilized…
- in vitro protein synthesizing system
- polynucleotide phosphorylase- enzyme- artificial synthesis of RNA templates- does not require DNA template
RNA homopolymer
one type of mRNA
used UUUU…., AAAA…., CCCC…., or GGG to determine which amino acids were incorporated into the proteins
Attached _____ to a different amino acid in each experiment
14C
GGG is a …
non funcional template
In mixed copolymers the proportion known, could predict…
the frequency of possible triplets
mixed copolymers predict…
composition of triplets
Triplet binding assay consists of…
Nirenberg and Leder
- Ribosomes (bind to single codon of 3 nucleotides)
- codon
- complementary amino acid- charged tRNA (radioactive) termed anticodon
Triplet binding assay…
Incubate what???
- radioactive tRNA
- RNA triplet
- nitrocellulose filter with ribosomes
If the paper is NOT radioactive???
incorrect AA was tested; repeat experiment
If the paper is radioactive???
tRNA bound to RNA triplet associated with ribosome
A specific codon assignment is made
What are repeating copolymers?
- chemically synthesized long RNA’s
- short repeating sequences enzymatically joined short sequences together, which made long RNA’s
- used for in vitro translation to determine more codon assignments
Repeating copolymers are dependent on…
initiation point
Coding Dictionary is ___________ meaning many amino acids are specified by more than one codon
degenerate
How many termination signals are there?
3
UAA UGA UAG
how many triplet codons are there for amino acids
61
What is the Wobble hypothesis
The first 2 ribonucleotides of triplet codes are more critical than the 3rd because the third position is less spatially constrained.
H bonding is more relaxed at the 3rd position
anticodon pair with more than one mRNA triplet
Ordered nature of code
similar AA often share middle bases in the coding triplets
In translation initiation, the initial __ is incorporated
AA
what is the initial AA?
modified form of methionine- N- formylmethionine (fmet)
What is the codon?
AUG
internally in mRNA, __________ methionine is inserted
unformylated
What are termination codons?
UAG UAA UGA
The termination codons are not recognized by ____ molecule
tRNA
What does termination end?
translation
what is a nonsense mutation?
mutation to stop codon internally in a gene may lead to early termination
This causes a partial peptide