Chapter 3 - Nucleic Acids and Transcription Flashcards
What is the makeup of DNA?
linear polymer of 4 different subunits
double helix structure - 2 strands coiled around each pother - linear backbone strands and paired base units
How does the double helix of DNA give it it’s function? (2 reasons)
DNA stores genetic information that is encoded in the sequence of subunits along its length some of the DNA info encodes proteins that provide structure and do much of the work of the cell. genetic info of DNA organised in form of genes.
DNA transmits genetic information to other molecules and from one generation to the next - maintain identity throughout time
how do genes exist and how are they expressed?
can exist in many different forms in different individuals
genes usually have no effect on the organism unless they are ‘turned on’ and their product is made
What is gene regulation?
whether a gene expression occurs at a given time, in a given cell, or at what level
Who conducted studies on transmission of genetic information in 1928? what did he find?
Frederick Griffiths - showed that macromolecules in extracts from bacteria could transmit genetic information from one bacterial cell to another
What was the name of the process that Frederick Griffiths studied? and how did he do it?
Bacterial Virulence
non virulent bacteria when injected into mice do not cause illness
dead virulent bacteria when injected also didn’t cause illness
but when living non virulent were injected alongside dead virulent, illness was caused
What was Frederick Griffiths conclusion?
dead virulent bacteria somehow caused non virulent bacteria to become virulent
In the early 1940s who identified DNA as molecule responsible for carrying genetic information?
Oswald Avery, Colin Macleod, and Maclyn McCarty
What did Avery, Macleod and McCarty study to find DNA as responsible for carrying genetic information?
virulence in pneumococcal bacteria
killed virulent bacterial cells with heat, then purified the remains of the dead virulent cells to make a solution (control worked)
to identify treated with 3 different enzymes (DNase, RNase, protease) which destroyed one of the 3 types of molecule (DNA, RNA and protein) that they thought might be responsible.
What was the hypothesis of Avery, Macleod, and McCarty’s experiment?
if the molecule responsible for transformation was destroyed it would not occur
What was the result of Avery, Macleod, and McCarty’s experiment?
with RNase and protease still occurred with DNase transformation did not occur
What was the conclusion of Avery, Macleod, and McCarty’s experiment?
DNA was the responsible molecule
How do nucleotides make up DNA molecules?
5 carbon sugar and phosphate group form backbone of molecule
bases give chemical identity and pair with other strand
What is there on a phosphate group? causing?
an ionised hydroxyl group - oxygen’s are negatively charged, therefore DNA is a mild acid
What carbon on the sugar is each base attached too?
1’ carbon
What are the purines?
double ring = adenine and guanine
WHat are the pyrimidines?
single ring = thymine and cytosine
If a nucleotide has 1,2 or 3 phosphates what are they called?
monophosphate, di, or tri
What is the linkage between nucleotides in DNA?
5’ carbon to 3’ carbon
What is the bond between the carbons in DNA nucleotides called?/ look like?
Phosphodiester bonds
C-O-P-O-C
What are the properties of phosphodiester bonds?
relatively stable bond can withstand stresses such as heat and substantial pH changes give strand polarity one end differs from another
Who discovered the double helix shape of DNA?
Watson and Crick - 1953
How many base pairs are there between a complete turn in double helix?
10
what is the diameter of DNA?
2nm
What does the outside of DNA helix consist of?
twisted strands with uneven pairs of grooves called major and minor grooves
What are the 2 strands of DNA in relation to each other?
they are antiparallel (run in opposite directions)
What are the complementary base pair A and T held together by?
2 hydrogen bonds
What are the complementary base pairs C and G held together by?
3 hydrogen bonds
How does a hydrogen bond form in DNA?
when an electronegative atom in the base shares a hydrogen atom with another electron atom across the way
What is the strength of Hydrogen bonds?
relatively weak (5-10% of covalent bonds) but together contribute to stability greatly
What happens between bases in DNA?
base stacking - the non polar flat surfaces of bases group together away from water and hence stuck on top as tightly as possible
What are DNA molecules copied in process of?
Replication
What is RNA an intermediary between?
DNA and proteins
What are most of the active molecules in cells and developmental processes?
proteins
What is transcription?
genetic information in a molecule is used as a template to generate a molecule of RNA, base pairing between a strand of DNA and RNA means that the strand in DNA is transferred to RNA in the same language of nucleic acids
What is translation?
RNA is used as a code for the sequence of amino acids in a protein change of languages from nucleotides to amino acids