Cycle 7: Transcription & Translation Flashcards
What does tRNA do?
bring amino acids to the ribosome for assembly into the polypeptide chain
What is the start codon/amino acid?
AUG
Methionine (Met)
What are the stop codons?
UAA
UAG
UGA
What happens when a stop codon is reached?
polypeptide synthesis stops and the new polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome
Why is it important to remain in the correct reading frame?
insertion/deletion causes all bases to shift changing all codons –> amino acids which can change the translated protein
What are the two parts of a gene? What are their functions?
- promotor: control sequence for TRANSCRIPTION
- transcription unit: section of gene that is COPIED into an RNA molecule
What is pre-mRNA?
first transcript of a eukaryotic protein-coding gene, which is processed in the nucleus to form TRANSLATABLE mRNA
Where is mature mRNA translated?
ribosomes in cytoplasm (after leaving nucleus from processing)
What is the purpose of the 5’ cap?
- protects single stranded mRNA from degradation
-the site where ribosomes attach at the start of translation instead of SD box
When is the 5’ cap added?
soon after transcription begins
How is transcription terminated in eukaryotes?
near the 3’ end of the gene is a DNA sequences that is transcribed into the pre-mRNA called the POLYADENYLATION SIGNAL
protein bind to the signal in the RNA and cleave it just downstream
this signals RNA polymerase to stop transcription
poly(A) polymerase adds a chain of adenine nucleotides
Do the 5’ cap and poly A tail need complementary base pairing?
NO! guanine 5’ cap and poly A tail are just added
What is the poly A tail purpose?
enables mRNA to be translated efficiently and protects it from attack by RNA-digesting enzymes in the cytoplasm
What are introns?
What are exons?
intervening sequences that interrupt the protein-coding sequences and are spliced out only in eukaryotes!
introns are trasncribed into pre-mRNA but are removed from pre-mRNA
exons - AA coding sequence present in pre-mRNA translated to proceed a polypeptide
What is mRNA splicing?
remove introns and join exons in pre-mRNA in nucleus
What is a spliceosome?
a complex formed between the premRNA and small ribonucleoprotein (snRNA and protein = snRNP) particles
cleaves pre-mRNA to released intron
What does the snRNPs do?
bind to an intron pre-mRNA and form active spliceosome
How is the reading frame intact during splicing?
complementary base pairing region of snRNA and mRNA
What is alternative splicing?
mechanism that joins exons in different combinations to produce different mRNAs from a single gene which is evolved and not random
same gene -> diff mRNA -> diff protein
Why is alternative splicing beneficial?
increases variety of proteins without increasing genome size
What is translation?
assembly of amino acids into polypeptides on ribosomes
Where does translation occur in prokaryotes? eukaryotes? What does this mean?
prokaryotes: throughout cell - mRNA immediately available for translation
eukaryotes: cytoplasm (specialized genes are transcribed and translated in mitochondria or chloroplast) - must exit nucleus and is them translated
How is mRNA read? How is the polypeptide assembled?
5’ to 3’
N-terminal end to C-terminal end
How is mRNA read? How is the polypeptide assembled?
5’ to 3’
N-terminal end to C-terminal end
What does tRNA structure look like?
cloverleaf pattern with anticodon - base pairs with codon in mRNA
Where do ribosomes function in prokaryotes? eukaryotes?
prokaryotes: throughout cell
eukaryotes: only in cytoplasm - freely suspended or attached ER membranes
What are the 3 steps of translation?
- initiation - translation components assemble on the start codon of the mRNA
- elongation - assembled complex reads the string of codons in the nRMA one at a time while joining the specified AA into the polypeptide
- termination - complex disassembles after the last AA of the polypeptide is added
How is prokaryotic translation different?
rather than scanning from 5’ end of mRNA, the initiator Met-tRNA and GTP bind directly to the region of the mRNA with the AUG start codon
initiation complex is guided by ribosome binding site (instead of the start codon on mRNA) that base-pairs with a complementary sequence of rRNA in the small ribosomal unit
large ribosomal subunit then binds to the small subunit to complete the ribosome
GTP hydrolysis begins translation
How does termination occur?
release/termination factor binds to A site and causes ribosome to disassemble into its subunits
- this is a protein (not tRNA) so it can’t base pair with stop codon
What is a polysome?
multiple ribosomes attached to mRNA which increases the rate of polypeptide synthesis
Why is transcription and translation couple in prokaryotic cells? What does this mean?
no nuclear envelope
as soon as 5’ end of new mRNA emerges from RNA poly, ribosomal subunits attach to initiate translation
– much faster than eukaryotes!