From DNA to Proteins Flashcards
Gene expression-
steps in which DNA in the genes code for proteins
Archibald Garrod-
studied rare genetic disease called alkaptonuria
alkaptonuria
recessive disease in which affected individuals were unable to break down tyrosine, an amino acid. Instead, homogentisic acid accumulates in urine and
turns it black. Lacked the enzyme which breaks down homogentisic acid–Mutation in one gene is associated with the absence of this specific enzyme
Beadle and Tatum-
studied the fungus Neurospora.
Neurospora Wild Type
individual with normal phenotype, which can grow
normally on simple growth medium/basic nutrients
Mutant strain (produced by radiation)- Neospora
cannot make a substance such as an amino acid, can only grow if that substance is added to growth medium
o Each mutant strain had mutation at only one locus- each gene locus affected only one enzyme
Called this the one-gene, one-enzyme hypothesis
Linus Pauling-
Mutation at single locus alters the structure of one polypeptide chain of hemoglobin, causing sickle cell anemia
o Therefore- we now conform to the one-gene, one-polypeptide chain hypothesis
Ribonucleic acid, or RNA,
link between DNA to protein
Differences between RNA and DNA:
o RNA is single stranded
o Contains the sugar ribose, not deoxyribose
o Base uracil substitutes for thymine
Transcription-
the “copying” of the template strand of DNA and formation of RNA. Forms three types of RNA
three types of RNA
mRNA, tRNA, rRNA
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-
single, uncoiled strand of RNA that carries information for making a protein
Transfer RNA (tRNA)-
single strand of RNA that folds back
on itself to form a specific shape. Each tRNA bonds to
one type of amino acid and carries it to the ribosome
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-
globular RNA that is part of the ribosomes of RNA and helps catalyze protein synthesis
Differences between transcription and DNA replication:
Only part of the DNA molecule is
used as a template
o Enzyme
RNA polymerase is used as opposed to DNA polymerase
o Results in one free RNA strand, not a double helix
Transcription happens constantly–DNA replication happens during S of cell cycle
Initiation: (transcription)
first stage of transcription
a. RNA polymerase attaches to promoter- region in
DNA that is not transcribed, contains the sequence
TATA (TATA box)
b. RNA polymerase then unwinds the DNA and initiates transcription
Elongation: (transcription)
second stage of transcription
a. RNA polymerase assembles RNA nucleotides using
1 strand of the DNA as a template
b. Occurs in
5’ to 3’ direction (new strand is made in 5’ to 3’ direction
like in replication)
Termination: (transcription)
third stage of transcription
RNA polymerase reaches a special sequence of
nucleotides that serve as a termination point
In eukaryotes- often contains the DNA sequence AAAAAAA
RNA polymerase releases the DNA template and the new RNA strand
In eukaryotic cells, each new molecule of mRNA is only what? what does this necessitate?
“pre-
mRNA”- must be modified before it can code for proteins
Modification of mRNA–5’ end
A modified GTP (guanosine triphosphate- or a guanine nucleotide with two extra phosphate groups) is added to the 5’ end to form a 5’ cap. Provides stability to new mRNA and a point of attachment for the ribosome.
Modification of mRNA–3’ end
3’ end of mRNA- 150 – 200 adenine nucleotides are added- poly-A
tail (-A-A-A….A-A-3’)
o Provides stability
o Controls movement of mRNA across the nuclear envelope
heterogenous nuclear RNA,
Pre-mRNA
Alternative splicing-
Different exons can be kept in or snipped
out- will change the types of proteins that are produced. Explains how human cells can make hundreds of
thousands of proteins from only about 20k genes