Lesson 21: Gene Expression: Translation Flashcards
What is translation?
Synthesis of a polypeptide using the genetic information encoded in an mRNA molecule. Change of of language from nucleotides to amino acids
What is the genetic code for DNA and RNA?
4 bases in DNA and RNA. 20 different amino acids. Multiple nucleotides must combine together to specify the different amino acids
What is the triplet code in the genetic code?
Set of three-nucleotide-long words specify the amino acids for polypeptide chains
What are codons?
mRNA nucleotide triplets
How was the genetic code determined?
The genetic code was determined by synthetic mRNAs and combining them with ribosomes, amino acids in a test tube
What would an mRNA molecule with only U make?
(UUU-UUU-UUU-UUU) produces a polypeptide with only phenylalanine (Phe-Phe-Phe-Phe)
What would an mRNA molecule with only A make?
Produces a polypeptide with only lysine (Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys)
What are two ways to describe the genetic code?
Redundant (more than one codon is used for most amino acids) and not ambiguous (one codon codes for only one amino acid)
What does AUG code for?
Methionine it is also the start codon for translation
What do UAA, UAG, and UGA have in common?
All do not code for an amino acid. Stop codons for translation
What does each mRNA have?
Three possible frames that can be translated into amino acids
What are reading frames?
Only one frame is used and the reading frame generally begins with the first AUG in the mRNA sequence
What are some facts on genetic code?
The genetic code applies to all organisms
The same code is used in bacteria, plants, and people
Implies that all life on earth had a common ancestor
A useful feature for molecular biologists
What is the goal of translation?
Translation brings together mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA in order to make a protein
What is mRNA?
Carries the genetic information from the DNA
What is rRNA?
Integral parts of ribosomes where translation occurs
What does tRNA do?
Converts the codons in the mRNA to the proper amino acid sequence
What is tRNA?
Short, single strand of RNA that adopts a specific shape, containing three loop domains
One loop contains a triplet anticodon that is complementary to the codon mRNA
What does the anticodon do?
The anticodon dictates a specific amino acid
What is aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in tRNA?
Links the correct amino acid to the correct tRNA
There are 20 different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, one for each amino acid
What do ribosomes do in rRNA and protein?
Each ribosomes is made of two subunits, a large subunit and a small subunit
Each subunit contains one or more rRNA molecules