L11 - Protein Synthesis Flashcards
What is the function of protein synthesis
To translate mRNA from the genome into protein using tRNA
Four fundamental properties of the codon
Three bases encode an amino acid
The code is non overlapping
Code is degenerate - more than one amino acid codes for a protein
Code is read from a specific start point
How many possible reading frames for an mRNA
3
start codon
What AA does it encode
AUG
Methionine
What are the three possible stop codons
UAA UAG UGA
Describe the strucutre of a tRNA molecule
Anticodon loop - contains the anitocodon loop
3’ end carries the amino acid
D and T loops on either side
Some nucleotides in the tRNA can be
Modified
Name two modified nucleotides
Pseudouridine
Dihydrouridine
How many possible modifications to nucleos with tRNA
What does this allow for
Over 50
Allows for specific interactions with the proteins
Why isnt the codon:tRNA 1:1
Becuase wobble at position 3
Allows non Watson crick base pairing
Means that one anticodon (tRNA) is able to bind to more than one codon
Describe one way in which a tRNA nucleotide can be modified
What can this nucleotide bind to
Adenine can be deaminated to create inosine
C U or A
How many tRNAs do bacteria use
31 for 61 codons
What is the function of aminoacyl tRNA synthases
Priming of the tRNAs
Describe how the priming of the tRNAs is carried out
Addition of AMP onto the C terminus of the amino acid
Adenylated amino acid then to form the aa-tRNA
Why is aa-tRNA described as being charged
Because the energy from the ATP hydrolysis is still contained within the ester linkage
What two adaptors are required for proper translation
Synthase - which pairs the correct aa to the correct t-RNA
the tRNA which pairs to the correct codon within the ribosome
How is synthase requires as an adaptor
Synthases are specific to the individual tRNAs
AAs have to fit into two pockets in the synthase (before and after the AMP is added)
What is the role of peptidyl transferase
Enzyme which adds amino acids to the C’ termnius
What is the ribosome made up from
50 ribosomal proteins
rRNAs
What are the two ribosomal subunits - what occurs at each
LARGE - catalyses aa polymerisation (peptide formation)
SMALL - facilitates the interaction between tRNA and mRNA
What are the 3 sites of the ribosome - what does each name stand for
A - aminoacyl tRNA
P - peptidyl transferase tRNA
E - exit site
Where do charged tRNAs enter? Where do they exit
A site entry exit at the E site
What is meant by the DNA code being non-overlapping
One triplet/codon is read at a time, followed by the next three bases (i.e. CGATTG –> CGA + TTG, CGATTG –> CGA + GAT TGX…)
What is meant by the genetic code being degenerate
Some amino acid acids are specified by more than one different codon
How many different human codons are there
61
How many amino acids are there
20
What is meant by there being three possible reading frames
Within a codon there are three different points which can act as different starts points and determine different amino acid sequences
What is the universal start codon and what amino acid does it code for
Start codon AUG – Methionine/Met/M
If a protein starts with methionine, you can determine that that is the start codon, T or F
T
What is meant by the abbreviation ORF
Open reading frame
What are the three possible stop codons that signal the end of the ORF
UGA, UAG and UAA
What adapter molecule is required for translation
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
What is the name of the sequence in tRNA that binds to the mRNA codons
Anticodon loops
Which end of the tRNA strand contains the bound amino acid
The 3’ end
What accounts for the similar structure seen in all tRNA molecules
Internal base pairing
What is unique about the bases contained within tRNAs
The bases are highly modified to allows more specific interactions with the protein counterparts
There are over 50 possible modifications of the bases in tRNAs, what is meant by psi and D bases
psi corresponds to pseudouridine and D is dihydrouridine
How many different codons are there for serine, and how many different tRNAs
6 different codons but only 3 different tRNAs
What is meant by wobble base pairing and what does this achieve
Wobble bases occur at position 3 in the anticodon and allow the same anticodon to bind to more than one codon
How is wobble base pairing achieved
Modification of bases within the anticodon. Deamination of guanine creates inosine which can pair with uracil, cytosine or adenine
How are tRNAs with attached amino acids referred to
Aminoacyl-tRNAs or charged tRNAs
What is the name of the enzyme that catalyses the addition of an amino acid to a tRNA molecule
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
Describe chemically, how amino acids are added to the 3’ end of the tRNA
Ester bond forms between the carboxyl group of the amino acid and the ribose group of the last nucleotide
Explain how the enzyme catalyses addition of an amino acid to the tRNA molecule
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase first primes the amino acid by the addition of an AMP to the C-terminus. It then uses the adenylated amino acid to form the aminoacyl tRNA
What is the other term used to describe aminoacyl tRNAs
Charged tRNA
New amino acids are added to the N-terminus of growing polypeptide chains, T or F
F – they are added to the C-terminus
Describe the composition of the ribosome in which protein synthesis/translation occurs in
The ribosome is composed of two different subunits. The complex consists of about 50 ribosomal proteins and several ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs)
What are the roles of the subunit in the ribosome
The large ribosomal subunit catalyses polymerisation and peptide elongation whereas the small subunit facilitates the tRNA/mRNA interactions
Describe how the process of translation is initiated
Initiator tRNA carrying methionine is loaded into the small ribosomal subunit with eIF-2. Met-charged tRNA is the only aminoacyl tRNA molecule capable of binding directly to the small ribosomal subunit and the only charged tRNA that can bind directly to the P site of the ribosome leading the A site vacant. Whilst the met-charged tRNA binds to the large ribosomal subunit, the small ribosomal subunit binds to the capped 5’ end of the mRNA and begins progressing along the strand until the met start codon AUG is reached. Once this AUG is reached the eIF’s dissociate and the large ribosomal subunit fully assembles
What is meant by the A site of the ribosome
Aminoacyl tRNA/activation site
What is meant by the P site of the ribosome
Peptidyl tRNA site
What is meant by the E site of the ribosome
Ejection/empty site
Describe the propagation of translation after the ribosome has fully assembled
Once this AUG has been reach and eIF’s have dissociated another aminoacyl tRNA bound to Elongation Factor-Tu binds to the vacant A site of the ribosome. If the anticodon of this aminoacyl tRNA doesn’t match the mRNA codon then this tRNA is ejected/falls off. Once the tRNA with the correct anticodon binds to the A site, EF-Tu hydrolyses its bound GTP and dissociates. The ribosome then catalyses formation of a peptide bond between the two amino acids. Following this the ribosome undergoes a conformational change that shifts the initiator tRNA into the E site of the ribosome. The now vacant P site is filled by the newly bound tRNA and EF-G binds to the ribosome. GTP hydrolysis by EF-G switches the ribosome back to being able to accept the next incoming rRNA. This process repeats until a stop codon is reached.
Describe the processes that occur during translation termination, after a stop codon is reached
Stop codons aren’t recognised by a tRNA molecule and thus don’t code for a corresponding amino acid. Once a stop codon is present in the A site of the ribosome, protein release factors bind to the site and terminate the polypeptide chain. Peptidyl transferase then catalyses the transfer of H2O to the C-terminus of the polypeptide chain resulting in the formation of a carbonyl group (COOH) and release of the protein from the ribosome. Release factors then move into the P site causing the ribosomal subunits to dissociate
What is the role of elongation factors in translation fidelity checking
Elongations promote translation and improve its accuracy
How specifically does elongation factor-1, EF-1 improve the accuracy of translation
After the anticodon has bound it causes two delays before the peptidyl transferase can act. Firstly it ensures that it must have hydrolysed its bound GTP and then it must have dissociated from the tRNA. These lags allow time for incorrect tRNAs to fall off.