EXAM 2 - Session 15: Protein Synthesis Flashcards
What is the responsibility of tRNA in mRNA tranlation into protein?
tRNA reads codon of mRNA
* each tRNA can only hold one amino acid
* anti-codon of tRNA base-pairs with codon on mRNA
What is the responsibility of tRNA in mRNA tranlation into protein?
tRNA reads codon of mRNA
* each tRNA can only hold one amino acid
Explain how tRNA attaches amino acids to the growing peptide strand.
- anti-codon of tRNA base-pairs with codon on mRNA
- carries amino acids via ester bond at the 3’ terminus
Describe the process of tRNA activation.
Requires AA, tRNA, enzymes, and energy source
1. correct aa is bound enzyme complex (aminoacyl-tRNA synthase) using ATP –> there is one aminoacyl-tRNA synthase for each tRNA and aa pair
2. AMP is exchanged for last nucleotide of tRNA
3. AMP is released; aa is covalently linked to tRNA via 3’-OH
4. activated tRNA is released and ready for codon recognition
Explain codon redundancy.
Different sequences that end up doing the same thing
* ex. STOP codons: LEU, VAL, ARG
Describe the general features of ribosomes.
1 large and 1 small subunit
* each subunit has characteristic proteins and rRNAs
* rRNAs have 2 degree structure form intermolecular base pairing
* rRNAs have catalytic activity for peptide bond formation
What is the size difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic/bacterial ribosomes? What does that mean?
Eukaryotic - 80S
Prokaryotic - 70S
* bigger ribosome –> slower
Contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomal sequences.
Different protein and rRNA in each.
What is the difference between the surfaces of eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomes?
There are 3D differences from rRNA and r-protein
* will affect how different antibiotics will interact with the ribsome
How do antibiotics differ?
Antibiotics can target different steps of translation.
What are the three modes of action of antibiotics?
- blocks tRNA interaction with ribosome
- blocks ribosome moving along mRNA
- blocks interaction of tRNA and mRNA codon
What is the advantage of using combined antibiotics?
One treatment might not be 100% effective in blocking specific function
* targeting different functions can improve bacterial kill-off
Name the three phases of translation.
- Initiation
- Elongation
- Termination
Describe the steps of initiation.
- mRNA initiation sequence binds mRNA to small ribosome subunit
- methionine-tRNA binds to start codon (AUG=met) via anticodon of tRNA
- large subunit binds to small subunit –> MET-tRNA fits into P site of large subunit
Explain why there is always excess mRNA at the 5’ end before the start codon.
The mRNA is always longer than than the codons coding for amino acids at the 5’ end because it is the noncoding intiation sequence.
* allow interactions with small subunit ribosomes