Final Exam Flashcards
Outline the structure of nucleosomes
DNA is wound around an octamer of histones (146 bases and 1.65 turns of the helix per octamer)
The octamer and DNA combination is secured to a H1 histone, forming a nucleosome
nucleosomes
They protect DNA from damage
They allow long lengths of DNA to be packaged (supercoiled) for mobility during mitosis / meiosis
When supercoiled, DNA is not accessible for transcription
Cells will have some segments of DNA permanently supercoiled (heterochromatin) and these segments will differ between different cell types
Intron
A non-coding sequence of DNA within a gene (intervening sequence) that is cut out by enzymes when RNA is made into mature mRNA
Exon
The part of the gene which codes for a protein (expressing sequence)
Eukaryotic DNA contains introns but prokaryotic DNA does not
Helicase
Unwinds the DNA and separates the two polynucleotide strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs
The two separated polynucleotide strands act as templates for the synthesis of new polynucleotide strands
DNA Polymerase
Synthesises new strands from the two parental template strands
Free deoxynucleoside triphosphates (nucleotides with three phosphate groups) are aligned opposite their complementary base partner and are covalently bonded together by DNA polymerase to form a complementary nucleotide chain
The energy for this reaction comes from the cleavage of the two extra phosphate groups
DNA replication occurs in a 5’ - 3’ direction
DNA replication is semi-conservative, meaning that a new strand is synthesised from an original template strand
DNA replication occurs in a 5’ - 3’ direction, in that new nucleotides are added to the C3 hydroxyl group such that the strand grows from the 3’ end
This means that the DNA polymerase enzyme responsible for adding new nucleotides moves along the original template strand in a 3’ - 5’ direction
Helicase
unwinds and separates the double stranded DNA by breaking the hydrogen bonds between base pairs
This occurs at specific regions (replication origins), creating a replication fork of two polynucleotide strands in antiparallel directions
RNA primase
synthesises a short RNA primer on each template strand to provide an attachment and initiation point for DNA polymerase III
DNA polymerase III
adds deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) to the 3’ end of the polynucleotide chain, synthesising in a 5’ - 3’ direction
The dNTPs pair up opposite their complementary base partner (adenine pairs with thymine ; guanine pairs with cytosine)
As the dNTPs join with the DNA chain, two phosphates are broken off, releasing the energy needed to form a phosphodiester bond
Synthesis is continuous on the strand moving towards the replication fork (leading strand)
Synthesis is discontinuous on the strand moving away from the replication fork (lagging strand) leading to the formation of Okazaki fragments
DNA polymerase I
removes the RNA primers and replaces them with DNA
DNA ligase
joins the Okazaki fragments together to create a continuous strand
DNA transcription in terms of the formation of an RNA strand complementary to the DNA strand by RNA polymerase
sequence of DNA that is transcribed into RNA is called a gene,Transcription occurs in the nucleus (where the DNA is) and, once made, the mRNA moves to the cytoplasm (where translation can occur) Messenger RNA (mRNA): A transcript copy of a gene used to encode a polypeptide Transfer RNA (tRNA): A clover leaf shaped sequence that carries an amino acid Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): A primary component of ribosomes
transcription direction
works in a 5 to 3
reads in a 3 to 5
translation
process of protein synthesis in which the genetic information encoded in mRNA is translated into a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
sense and antisense strands of DNA
antisense strand is transcribed into RNA
Its sequence will be complementary to the RNA sequence and will be the “DNA version” of the tRNA anticodon sequence
The sense strand is not transcribed into RNA
Its sequence will be the “DNA version” of the RNA sequence (identical except for T instead of U)
promoter region
Responsible for the initiation of transcription (in prokaryotes, a number of genes may be regulated by a single promoter - this is an operon)
Coding Sequence
The sequence of DNA that is actually transcribed (may contain introns in eukaryotes)
Terminator
Sequence that serves to terminate transcription (mechanism of termination differs between prokaryotes and eukaryotes)
Transcription
RNA polymerase binds to the promoter and causes the unwinding and separation of the DNA strands
Nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) bind to their complementary bases on the antisense strand (uracil pairs with adenine, cytosine pairs with guanine)
RNA polymerase covalently binds the NTPs together in a reaction that involves the release of two phosphates to gain the required energy
RNA polymerase synthesises an RNA strand in a 5’ - 3’ direction until it reaches the terminator
At the terminator, RNA polymerase and the newly formed RNA strand both detach from the antisense template, and the DNA rewinds
Many RNA polymerase enzymes can transcribe a DNA sequence sequentially, producing a large number of transcripts
Post-transcriptional modification is necessary in eukaryotes
Pre-Initiation:
Specific tRNA-activating enzymes catalyse the attachment of amino acids to tRNA molecules, using ATP for energy
Initiation
The small ribosomal subunit binds to the 5’ end of mRNA and moves along it until it reaches the start codon (AUG)
Next, the appropriate tRNA molecule binds to the codon via its anticodon (according to complementary base pairing)
Finally, the large ribosomal subunit aligns itself to the tRNA molecule at its P-site and forms a complex with the small ribosomal subunit
Elongation
The small ribosomal subunit binds to the 5’ end of mRNA and moves along it until it reaches the start codon (AUG)
Next, the appropriate tRNA molecule binds to the codon via its anticodon (according to complementary base pairing)
Finally, the large ribosomal subunit aligns itself to the tRNA molecule at its P-site and forms a complex with the small ribosomal subunit
Elongation
A second tRNA molecule pairs with the next codon in the ribosomal A-site
The amino acid in the P-site is covalently attached via a peptide bond to the amino acid in the A-site
Translocation:
The ribosome moves along one codon position, the deacylated tRNA moves into the E-site and is released, while the tRNA bearing the dipeptide moves into the P-site
Another tRNA molecules attaches to the next codon in the newly emptied A-site and the process is repeated
The ribosome moves along the mRNA sequence in a 5’ - 3’ direction, synthesising a polypeptide chain
Multiple ribosomes can translate a single mRNA sequence simultaneously (forming polysomes)
Termination
Elongation and translocation continue until the ribosome reaches a stop codon
These codons do not code for any amino acids and instead signal for translation to stop
The polypeptide is released and the ribosome disassembles back into subunits
The polypeptide may undergo post-translational modification prior to becoming a functional protein
7.4.7 State that free ribosomes synthesise proteins for use primarily within the cell, and that bound ribosomes synthesise proteins primarily for secretion or for lysosomes
Ribosomes floating freely in the cytosol produce proteins for use within the cell
Ribosomes attached to the rough ER are primarily involved in producing proteins to be exported from the cell or used in the lysosome
These proteins contain a signal recognition peptide on their nascent polypeptide chains which direct the associated ribosome to the rough ER
Prophase
DNA supercoils, chromosomes are each comprised of two genetically identical sister chromatids joined at a centromere,centrosomes move to opposite poles of the cell and spindle fibres begin to form between them (in animals, each centrosome contains 2 centrioles)
The nuclear membrane is broken down and disappears