RNA to Protein Flashcards
The study of the mechanisms of transcription and translation
Molecular biology
Protein synthesis is very important in part because it is the last opportunity for
Regulating gene expression
The genetic code is degenerate, with the exception that
The UGA stop codon encodes selenocysteine in humans
Mutation that changes the codon to a termination codon
Nonsense mutation
Mutation that changes the codon to another sequence coding the same amino acid
Silent muttion
Mutation that changes the codon to a sequence that encodes an entirely different amino acid
Missense mutation
What are the six features of a typical mammalian mRNA?
- ) 5’ Cap
- ) 5’ UTR
- ) Start codon (AUG)
- ) Stop codon (UAA)
- ) 3’ UTR
- ) Poly A tail
The region between the start and stop codon
Coding region
Specialized nucleotide (7-methyl-GMP) that is required for binding of initiation factors
5’ cap
The start codon AUG codes for
Methionine
What are the three stop codons
UGA, UAG, and UAA
The sequence between the stop codon and the poly(A) tail, and the site of key regulatory sequences
3’ UTR
Protects mRNA from degredation and increases translational efficiency
-Un-templted
Poly(A) tail
Deletion of a base can be disastrous because it will change the
Reading frame
The 3’ CCA end of tRNA is not trancribed, but is added after processing and it
Attaches to amino acids
Recognize tRNAs and add the appropriate amino acid to them
aminoacyl tRNA synthetases
Aminoacylation requires
ATP
Recognize the anticodon as well as other structural features in the tRNA
aminoacyl tRNA synthetases
The eukaryotic ribosome (80S) is made up of
- ) A large subunit (60S)
2. ) A small subunit (40S)
The ribosome is mostly RNA. Peptide bond formation occurs without the contribution of any protein, meaning the ribosome is a
ribozyme
Fill the gap between the large and small subunits of the ribosome
tRNAs
What are the three tRNA binding sites in a ribosome?
- ) A (aminoacyl) site: initial tRNA binding site for next codon
- ) P (peptidyl) site: where peptide bond is formed
- ) E (exit) site: tRNA is released
Initiation and elongation occur simutaneously, yielding multiple ribosomes on a single mRNA molecule. This very large mRNA/ribosome complex is called a
Polysome
Encompasses the assembly of the ribosome and mRNA and the positioning of the ribosome on the start codon
Initiation
The first step of initiation is the formation of the
Pre-initiation complex (made up of elongation factors like GTP dependant elF2)
The second step of initiation is the pre-initiation complex
Sans the mrNA for the AUG codon
Part of the initiation complex that binds to the 5’ cap
elF4E
Part of the initiation complex the binds and delivers initiator Met-tRNA
-requires GTP
elF2
PArt of initiation complex that serves as a scaffold protein that binds elF4E required for assembly of the pre-initiation complex
elF4G
The initiator tRNA is special in that it is not used during
Elongation or to incorporate Met
The initiator tRNA moves along the RNA searching for the first start codon. During this process, it utilizes
Helicase activity and ATP hydrolysis
The third step of initiation is that after the start codon has been located, the
Large subunit joins the complex
Causes elF2 release, signalling the large ribosomal subunit to bind
GTP hydrolysis
A common theme in many steps of translation. It often provides a signal for the next step (i.e. the binding of the 60S subunit)
GTP-dependent release of factors
The movement of the ribosome down the mRNA, coordinated with aminoacyl tRNA delivery
Elongation
During initiation, the very first tRNA is bound in the P site. All subsequent tRNAs first bind to the
A site
What is step one of elongation
Delivery of aa-tRNA to the A site and E site release
The incoming tRNA is bound to the GTP-dependent factor
eEF1A
What is step two of elongation?
GTP hydrolysis and eEF1A release, followed by proofreading
What is step three of elongation?
eEF2 (w/ GTP) binding to catalyze translocation
What is step four of elongation?
GTP hydrolysis and eEF2 release (completion of cycle)
Binds to all canonical tRNA’s (i.e. all tRNAs except the initiator tRNA and the selenocysteine tRNA
eEF1A