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Central Dogma, Genetic Code

using RNA for protein - 

  • ribosomes - RNA-protein complexes that make polypeptides
    • has 2 subunits
    • RNA acts as main catalytic unit, ribosomal proteins has structural role
    • protein synthesis occurs at P, A, and E sites
  • ribosomal RNA (rRNA) - type of RNA in ribosomes
    • provides the site where polypeptides get assembled
  • transfer RNA (tRNA) - transports/positions amino acids
  • messenger RNA (mRNA) - long RNA strands transcribed from DNA
  • reads genetic messages in DNA and produces the proteins that the DNA asks for

central dogma - aka gene expression; info passes DNA > RNA > proteins 

  • transcription - transfer of info from DNA to RNA
    • produces mRNA
    • starts when RNA polymerase binds to promoter binding site
    • creates complementary transcript (uracil in place of thymine)
  • translation - transfer of info from RNA to protein
    • directs sequence of amino acids
    • each group of 3 nucleotides codes for an amino acid
    • rRNA reads the mRNA to make the polypeptide chain

genetic code - consists of codons (blocks of information) 

  • same in almost all organisms
    • supports belief that all organisms have the same root
    • mitochondria/chloroplasts read code differently
  • each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid
  • 3-nucleotide sequence in each codon (triplet code)
  • reading frame - part of genetic code being read by mRNA
  • removing a single nucleotide or 2 would mess everything up
  • triplet binding assay - developed by Nirenberg/Leder to see which radioactive amino acid the triplet binded to; tested all 64 possible combinations
  • mRNA can be transferred from 1 organism to another and still work
Subject: 
Biology
Subject X2: 
Biology

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