Protein Synthesis Flashcards
How many possible combinations of the 4 mRNA nucleotide cases are there for each codon?
64 possible combinations (=43)
What does degeneracy mean in terms of translation?
The code for protein synthesis is less specialized, or degenerate
Although there are 64 possible combinations for amino acids, there are only 20 coded for
Redundancy
Describe the wobble position and how it contributes to degeneracy.
The wobble position is the 3rd base in the codon sequence. In many cases, the amino acid coded for is only determined by the first two bases, and the third base does not matter
This is the source for the degeneracy of the genetic code.
What nucleotide bases determine the 3 stop codons?
UAA, UGA, UAG
“U Are Annoying, U Go Away, U Are Gone”
What are the three major properties of the genetic code?
1) The genetic code is universal (all organisms use same code)
2) The genetic code is degenerate
3) Some codons have additional functions (methionine to start, and stop codons)
With the triplet codon structure of mRNA, how many different reading frames exist?
There are 3 different possible reading frames, but only one of them will produce a functional protein
Frameshift mutations usually cause premature stop codons that terminate protein synthesis
What are the main steps of translation?
- Charging the tRNA
- Initiation
- Elongation
- Termination
Describe the secondary and tertiary structure of tRNA molecules
Secondary Structure: cloverleaf structure with the tRNA looping into 3 “leaves. The middle leaf has the anticodon and the “stem” has the amino acid binding site. Many of the bases are modified.
Tertiary structure: L structure is the folded form with the anticodon on one end of the L, the amino acid binding site on the other end and the T/D loops at the “elbow”
True or false: The anticodon is a 3 base pair sequence found on tRNA strands
True.
Anticodons are found on tRNA and are complimentary to the codons of the mRNA
Which position number is the wobble position on the codon? What about on the anticodon?
On the codon, the wobble position is number 3
On the anticodon, the wobble position is number 1
*Always read 5’–>3’
What enzyme charges the tRNA?
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases
Describe how amino acids are attached to tRNA molecules
Catalyzed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases
With energy input from ATP, amino acids are adenylated by linking the carboxyl of the amino acid to a adenine.
The aminoacyl-tRNA is then formed by producing a high energy ester linkage between the tRNA and the amino acid
How do aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases differ between eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
In eukaryotes, each amino acid has a unique aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
In prokaryotes, one synthetase couples more than one amino acid
How do aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases ensure that the correct tRNA molecule is bound?
The anticodon regions of the tRNA are inserted into a pocket and the shape and charge of the nucleotides in the anticodon are checked.
This is not always useful because some amino acids are coded for by 6 different codons. The 3’ amino acid accepting arm is also matched to the enzyme to ensure that the correct tRNA is bound.
How does aminoacyl tRNA synthetase select the correct amino acid?
Two separate sites on the enzyme are used to ensure that the correct amino acid is attached to the tRNA.
First, the size of the amino acid determines whether or not it can fit into the synthesis site. If it is too big, then it will not fit into this site and will not be attached to the tRNA.
If the amino acid is too small, it will fit in the amino acid, but it will also fit into the editing site. Amino acids are removed from the tRNA in the editing site.
What is the accuracy of tRNA charging?
1 error is made in every 40,000 couplings
What is a Shine-Dalgarno site?
Shine-Dalgarno sites consist of 3-9 bases in the mRNA that base pair with the 3’ end of the small ribosomal subunit. This is located about 5 base pairs upstream of the initiator codon.
Describe the initiation of translation in prokaryotes.
Initiation occurs at AUG codons with properly spaced Shine-Dalgarno sequences
The 16S rRNA base pairs with the SD sequence and positions the start codon within the ribosome.
IF2 has a bound GTP that binds to the initiating formyl-methionine tRNA
The large ribosomal subunit then attaches and the IF2-GTP is hydrolyzed in order to catalyze the bond formation
True or false: Eukaryotic mRNA is polycistronic.
False.
Prokaryotic mRNA is polycystronic because ribosomes assemble directly onto each start codon. Eukaryotic mRNA is monocystronic.
Describe the initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotes.
Initiation tRNA with bound eIF2-GTP is loaded onto the small ribosomal subunit
eIF-4E and 4G bind to the 5’ cap and the polyA tail to make sure the mRNA is intact
The small ribosomal subunit then scans for the first AUG (start codon)
When the AUG is found, eIF2-GTP is hydrolyzed and the large ribosomal subunit binds to the small subunit.
The initiation tRNA is in the P-site of the ribosome at this point and protein synthesis is ready to begin.
How is eIF2-GDP recycled?
eIF2-GDP is produced when eIF2-GTP is hydrolyzed during initiation
It is recycled by eIF2B, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor using a molecule of GTP
What factor binds to the 5’ end of mRNA during the initiation of translation?
eIF4 (composed of eIF4E,G and A)
This confirms that mRNA is properly processed and promotes the binding of the 40S subunit to the mRNA
Describe the mechanism for how the 40S ribosomal unit binds to the mRNA in translation initiataion.
eIF2-GTP binds to the met-tRNA which then binds to the 40S rRNA
eIF3 binds to the small ribosomal subunit and interacts with eIF4G which is already bound to the 5’ end of the mRNA
The small subunit is then attached to the 5’ end of the mRNA
How does the 40S ribosome detach from eIF4 to begin scanning?
The hydrolysis of ATP is used to remove the eIF4 (E,A, G and B) from the mRNA
The ribsome is then free to scan along the mRNA for the first AUG sequence
