11.

2 From DNA to Protein

Genes & Proteins
• Nucleotide
sequence contains
information to
make proteins
• Proteins are
polymers of amino
acids (made of
chains of amino
acids)
• Proteins are made
on ribosomes
Shape of Protein determines its
function
• Proteins fold into
complex, 3-D
structures to
function inside the
cell
• Examples:
– enzymes that
break down food
– Hemoglobin
carries O2 in RBC
 Transcription
• Transcription is the process of making RNA
from DNA
 RNA vs. DNA
• Similarities:
– Both are nucleic acids
– Both are polymers made of
nucleotides
• Differences:
 Transcription
• http://www.stolaf.edu/people/giannini
/flashanimat/molgenetics/transcriptio
n.swf
 From DNA to RNA
• RNA polymerase binds to the beginning
(promoter) of a specific gene.
• Free RNA nucleotides form base pairs with their
complementary nucleotides on the DNA strand
(the template strand)
• RNA transcription ends when a terminator
sequence on the DNA template is reached.
• RNA strand breaks away, & the DNA strand rejoins
 3 Types of RNA

• Messenger RNA (mRNA)composed of a single nucleotide

strand. mRNA carries genetic information from the nuclear
DNA to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
• Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a single chain of about 80
nucleotides, folded into a hairpin shape. Different tRNAs
bind to specific amino acids .
• Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) nucleotides are joined by proteins
into a globular form to make up ribosomes.
 RNA processing
• Genes contain coding (exons, expressed) and
non-coding (introns, intervening) regions
 Translation
• http://www.stolaf.edu/people/giannini/flas
Translation from mRNA to Protein
 The mRNA Genetic code
• There are 20 AA.
• There are 64 different mRNA codons (group of 3
nitrogenous bases on mRNA)
• Start codon is AUG, codes for the AA methionine
• Stop codons are UAG, UGA, UAA
• All organisms use the same genetic code
 Lets practice making proteins
DNA template TAC GGG CGT TTA AAT CCG ATC
ATT

mRNA transcript
(codons)

tRNA anticodons

Protein A.A. seq.

 Warm up
• Complete the DNA extraction w/s