Translation Flashcards
Translation of RNA into protein
Convert mRNA sequence to protein sequence, uses specific code, 4 bases, 20 amino acids, three bases for one amino acid, codon in mRNA matches anticodon in tRNA
Start codon
AUG (ATG in DNA)
Stop codons
UAG, UGA, UAA
Total tRNA
Code is degenerate but unambiguous, 61 codons for amino acids, 3 stop codons, <61 tRNAs required
Reading the code
Start codon (AUG) sets the reading frame, each codon read in sequence, each signifies one amino acid or stop codon
Point mutations
Change of base pair, missense, nonsense, null, silent, can occur through DNA replication mistakes, repair mistakes, chemically altered base that mispairs
Deletion mutation
Removal of one or more bases, can occur through intercalating chemicals, DNA polymerase slips, mobile genetic elements
Insertion mutation
Addition of one or more bases, can occur through intercalating chemicals, mobile genetic elements
Frameshift mutation
Deletion or insertion of a number of bases that cannot be divided by three, occurs by intercalating chemicals, mobile genetic elements
Inversion mutation
Inversion of a sequence of bases (may cause frame shift), caused by mobile genetic elements
Silent mutation
A change that specifies the same amino acid
Missense mutation
Change that specifies a different amino acid
Nonsense mutation
Change that produces a stop codon
Consequences of frameshift mutation
Insert or delete bases, not a multiple of three, normal protein sequence before, completely changed after site of mutation, usually leads to premature termination by new stop codon in new reading frame
Splice site mutations
May decrease splicing efficiency, may alter splicing, inserting sequence from intron into mRNA or cause exon skipping, loss of one or more exons
Large insertions or deletions
Can remove large portion of the gene or entire gene, or interrupt gene with insertion
Triplet repeat expansion
Proteins with long run of same codon, may increase number of repeats with time, at some length repeat interferes with protein function and/or production
Amino acids and tRNAs
Amino acid is attached to specific tRNA by unique aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, recognition site on tRNA varies for each, one aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for each tRNA
Aminoacylation
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, amino acid attached to terminal adenine of CCA, initial step uses ATP to form intermediate, carboxyl group on amino acid is joined to 3’ carbon of adenine by ester bond, amino group free to be added to polypeptide chain
Error correction
Incorrect amino acid is identified, transferred to editing site and removed, tRNA can be charged with correct amino acid