Protein Synthesis and RNA Flashcards
What is protein synthesis?
Production of proteins (polypeptides) from the information contained within a cell’s DNA
What are the 2 main stages of protein synthesis?
Transcription and translation
What is transcription?
Where the DNA code is copied into an mRNA molecule
What is translation?
Where mRNA joins with a ribosome and the code it carries is used to synthesise a protein
What does RNA contain as a base?
Uracil instead of thymine
When is mRNA made?
During transcription
What does mRNA do?
Carries genetic code from DNA to ribosomes where it is used to make a protein during translation
What is the structure of mRNA?
Single polynucleotide strand
Groups of 3 adjacent bases (called codons)
What is tRNA involved in?
Translation
What does tRNA do?
Carries amino acids that are used to make proteins to the ribosomes
What is the structure of tRNA?
Single polynucleotide strand
Folded into clover shape
Specific sequence of 3 bases at 1 end called an anticodon
Amino acid binding site at other end
What bonds are between the specific base pairs that hold the tRNA molecule in a clover shape?
Hydrogen
Why is the mRNA sequence complementary to the DNA sequence?
mRNA is copied from DNA
What bases are found in RNA?
Adenine
Uracil
Cytosine
Guanine
What bases pair with each other in RNA?
Adenine and Uracil
Cytosine and Guanine
