RNA and Genetic Code Flashcards
(70 cards)
mRNA
Carries information from DNA by traveling from the nucleus (where is is transcribed) to the cytoplasm (where is it translated)
How is mRNA synthesized?
- 5’ to 3’
- antiparallel to complementary strand of DNA
How is the protein sythensized
- from animo to carboxy terminus
- mRNA is red 5’ to 3’
tRNA
- converts language of nucleic acids into amino acids and peptides
- anticodon
- charged tRNA when amino acids are attached to it
- tRNA is found in the cytoplasm
Aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase
- puts the amino acid on the tRNA
- tRNA has a CCA nucleotide sequence in which the AA binds
rRNA
- synthesized in the nucleolus
- ribozymes - enzymes made from RNA molecules instead of protein
- catalytic function: creates peptide bonds between amino acids
What are the 3 stop codons?
UAA, UAG, UGA
Why is the genetic code degenerate?
-because more than one codon can specify for a single amino acid
Point mutation
-where one nucleotide replaces another nucleotide
1) Missense mutation
2) Nonsense mutation
Missence mutation
-a type of point mutation
-results in the substitution of one amino acid for another
Encoded protein: One amino acid is changed in the protein; variable effects on function depending on specific change
Nonsense mutation
-a type of point mutation
-results in a premature stop codon (truncation mutation)
Encoded protein: Early truncation; variable effect but usually more severe than missense mutation
Transcription
-creation of mRNA from DNA template
Frameshift
Insertion or deletion of bases, creating a shift in the reading frame of the mRNA
Encoded protein: Change in most amino acids after the site of insertion or deletion; usually the most severe of the mutation types
Template strand
- the DNA strand where mRNA is synthesized
- aka: antisense strand
- mRNA strand is antiparallel and complementary to the template strand
RNA polymerase
- how RNA is synthesized
- binds at the PROMOTER
What RNA polymerase transcribes in eukaryotes?
RNA polymerase II
-binds at the TATA box (promotor)
Transcription factors
-help bind the RNA polymerase bind to the promoter region of DNA
RNA polymerase I, II, III in eukaryotes
I = synthesizes rRNA II = synthesizes the mRNA III = synthesizes tRNA and some rRNA
How does RNA polymerase read?
-reads 3’ to 5’ - so builds the mRNA 5’ to 3’
Coding strand
- sense strand of the DNA
- not used in template during transcription
- coding strand is identical to the mRNA transcript - but thymines replaced by uracils
Posttranscriptional modifications
1) Addition of guanine 5’cap
2) Addition of poly 3’ A tail
3) Intron / exon splicing
Splicing
-Removal of introns (non-coding regions) and joining of exons (coding sequences). Uses snRNA and snRNPs in the spliceosome to crease lariat, which is degraded. Exons are ligated together.
Spliceosome
-snRNA with snRNPs
Alternative splicing
- primary transcript of pre-mRNA may be spliced togther in different ways to produce multiple variants of proteins encoded by the same oriignal gene
- basically, produces different proteins from the same gene