Translation Flashcards
What are the stop codons?
UAA
UGA
UAG
What is the start codon and what does it code for?
It is AUG and it codes for methionine.
What is a pneumonic for UAA?
You are angry
What is a pneumonic for UGA?
You go away
What is a pneumonic for UAG?
You are gone
What does UUU code for?
Phenylalanine
What does CCC code for?
Proline
What does GGG code for?
Glycine
What does AAA code for?
Lysine
What is the in-frame sequence between the initiation codon and the termination codon called?
The open reading frame (ORF)
What does the N-terminal of protein correspond to on mRNA?
The 5’ end
What does the C-terminal of protein correspond to on mRNA?
The 3’ end
What did Dintzis do in 1961?
Used radioisotopes to follow globin synthesis in reticulocytes (immature erythrocytes)
Can RNA interact directly with amino acids to specify their order?
Nope, tRNAs serve as adapters specific for each amino acid that bind to specific codons on RNA templates
What happens to aa’s prior to their incorporation into protein?
They are enzymatically linked to tRNA molecules
Tell me 4 basic things about tRNA.
Small RNA molecules (73-93 bases)
Mitochondria have their own
All cells have at least 32 tRNAs
Some tRNAs can recognize more than one codon
What do most tRNAs have at their 5’ end?
G
How many bases are often modified by methylation of a normal base in tRNAs?
8 or more
What does the D arm of tRNA contain?
Dihydrouride
What is the anticodon of tRNA structure?
A 3 base structure in the anticodon loop on the anticodon arm
What does the anticodon of tRNA do?
Pairs with the codon in the mRNA
What is the first base of the anticodon called?
The wobble position
What are the 4 relationships between codons and anticodons as outlined by the wobble hypothesis?
1) First two bases of codon always form strong standard base pairs
2) The first base of some anticodons determines the number of codons read by a given tRNA
3) Different tRNAs are required when codons differ in either of the first two bases
4) A minimum of 32 different tRNAs to translate all 61 codons
What is an example of the wobble hypothesis?
Yeast arginine tRNA
What are ribosomes composed of?
Two subunits one small one large
Are ribosomes large or small?
Large! Largest at 23nm
What do both subunits of ribosomes form?
Peptidyl (P) site
Aminoacyl (A) site
Exit (E) site