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FLS > The genetic code > Flashcards

The genetic code Flashcards

1
Q

What does an amino acid look like?

A

. R
I
H2+N–C—COO-
I
H

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2
Q

What is a peptide bond?

A

A peptide bond is formed from a condensation reaction between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of the adjacent amino acid.

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3
Q

What does a peptide bond look like?

A
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4
Q

What is the difference in genetic code from protein to RNA?

A

RNA consists of four nucleotides - A U G C
Protein consists of 20 amino acids, each made from 3 nucleotides.

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5
Q

What is the genetic code?

A

A triplet code in which three nucleotides in RNA specify one amino acid in protein.

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6
Q

What is a triplet?

A

Each triplet of nucleotides (A,U,G,C) is a codon.

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7
Q

What is the start codon?

A

AUG = (Met)hionine

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8
Q

What are the stop codons?

A

UAA
UAG
UGA

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9
Q

How are the amino acids grouped?

A
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10
Q

How do mutations affect amino acids?

A

Mutations can affect biochemical property and therefore function.
It can lead to loss of the function of a protein in a mechanism that may be essential and has no back up.

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11
Q

What are hydrophobic amino acids?

A

Repels water
Val, Leu, Ile, Met, Pro

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12
Q

What are nucleophilic amino acids?

A

Donates electron pairs to form chemical bonds
Ser, Thr, Cys

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13
Q

What are basic amino acids?

A

The R group at pH 7 is basic.
It contains N2.
Binds protons, positive, and nucleophilic.
His, Lys, Arg

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14
Q

What are acidic amino acids?

A

R group at pH 7 is acidic
Contains carboxylic acid, loses protons, negative.
Asp, Glu

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15
Q

What are aromatic amino acids?

A

Cyclic - very important as they absorb at 280
Phe, Tyr, Trp

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16
Q

What are amide amino acids?

A

The amides are cyclic based on the R group.
Gln, Asn

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17
Q

What are small amino acids?

A

Small in size - Gly, Ala

18
Q

What are essential amino acids?

A

Need to be provided through diet.
Thr
Phe, Trp
Val, Leu, Ile, Met
His, Lys

19
Q

What are non-essential amino acids?

A

Made within the body
Cys, Ser
Tyr
Gly, Ala
Gln, Asn
Arg
Asp, Glu

20
Q

What is the structure of Glutamic acid?

A

CH2 CH2 COOH

21
Q

What is the structure of Glycine?

A

H

22
Q

What is the structure of Lysine?

A

(CH2)4 NH2

23
Q

What is the structure of Glutamine?

A

CH2 CH2 C=O NH2

24
Q

What is the structure of Methionine?

A

CH2 CH2 S CH3

25
Q

What is the structure of Phenylalanine?

A

CH2 - aromatic ring

26
Q

What is the structure of Serine?

A

CH2 OH

27
Q

What is the structure of Tyrosine?

A

CH2 - phenol ring

28
Q

What is the structure of Valine?

A

CH (CH3)2

29
Q

What are reading frames?

A

Once a gene has been sequenced we need to identify the Open Reading Frame.
Every region of DNA has 6 possible reading frames - 3 in each direction.

30
Q

What is an Open Reading Frame?

A

ORF is a run of codons that starts with ATG and ends with a termination codon - TGA, TAA or TAG.
It is the frame that produces the longest polypeptide.

31
Q

What does an ORF look like?

A
32
Q

How should you write an open reading frame?

A

N-Met
amino acid -C

33
Q

What is the triplet code feature of the genetic code?

A

Each triplet on the DNA codes for a specific amino acid in the RNA when it is translated.

34
Q

What is the degenerate feature of the genetic code?

A

Most amino acids are coded for by more than one codon.

35
Q

What is partial degeneracy?

A

The 1st two bases in the codon are the same and the 3rd is one of 3 bases.

36
Q

What is complete degeneracy?

A

The 1st two bases in the codon are the same and the 3rd is any of the 4 bases.

37
Q

What is the non-overlapping feature of the genetic code?

A

Adjacent codons do not overlap so no single base can take part in the formation of more than one codon.

38
Q

What is the non-ambiguity feature of the genetic code?

A

While the same amino acid can be coded by more than one codon (degenerate), the same codon shall not code for two or more different amino acids.

39
Q

What is the universal feature of the genetic code?

A

The same sequence of 3 bases encode the same amino acids in all life forms.

40
Q

What is the polarity feature of the genetic code?

A

Reads in a 5’-3’ direction

FLS (14 decks)

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