Gene

Anatomy
Three Major processes in cellular
utilization of genetic information:
– Replication: copying of parent DNA to
form daughter DNA molecule having
identical nucleotide sequence.
– Transcription: part of the coded
message in DNA is copied precisely in
the form of RNA.
– Translation : genetic message coded in
RNA is translated on the ribosome into a
protein with a specific sequence of
amino acids.
Gene
The fundamental unit of information
in living system is the gene.
A gene is defined as a segment of
DNA that encodes the information
required for the synthesis of
functional biological product or
affects a single character or
phenotype ( visible property).
DNA
DNA is vast information database.
It resides in the core of the nucleus
of each body’s trillions of cells.
It carries the complete set of
instructions for making all the
proteins a cell will ever need.
 Chemical Bases in DNA
DNA exists as two
long,paired strands
spiraled into double
helix
Each strand is made
up of millions of
chemical bases.
There are only four
different chemical
bases (adenine A ,thymine
T,cytosine C, guanine G)
The order in which the
bases occur
determines the
messages to be
conveyed
 Watson & Crick Model
• Two helical polynucleotide Chains(strand),run
in opposite direction.
• Plan of the bases are perpendicular to helical
axis.
• Helical structure repeats itself every 10.6
residues.
• Two chains are held together by hydrogen
bonds & stacking of the bases.
• The precise sequence of bases carries the
genetic information.
• Always one base is purine while the other is
pyrimidine.
 Introduction of supercoiling
Most DNA superhelices in nature are
negatively supercoiled, to form a
supercoil, three steps are required:
• Cleavage of one or both DNA strands

• Passage of one segment of DNA

through this break

• Resealing of the break.

Topoisomerase
Two types of topoisomerases
– Type 1 topoisomerases: creates a single
– stranded breaks in DNA. In
prokaryotes removes negative
supercoils while in eukaryotes both
negative & positive supercoils can be
removed. Important only in repair of
damaged DNA & in transcription.
– Type 11 topoisomerases: cuts double
stranded DNA.
Prokaryotes-DNA gyrase.
Eukaryotes- it is involved in resolving the
tangles that exist in newly replicated linear
chromosome.
 DNA Gyrase
Introduces negative supercoiling converts
the energy of ATP into torsional energy of
supercoiling
• Wraping of 200 bp around the enzyme
• Binding of ATP which trigers cleavage of
strands
• Segment of DNA pass through the gap of the
2 fixed ends
• Linking of the two strands
• Hydrolysis of bound DNA leads to release of
segment
• Novobiocin inhibits bacterial gyrase but not
DNA Molecule
Every human cell contains the same
DNA
Each cell has 46 molecules of double
stranded DNA
Each DNA molecule is made up of 50
to 250 million bases housed in a
chromosome
Gene Subunits
The gene is the working subunit of
DNA
A gene is a segment along the DNA
carrying a particular set of
instruction
There are between 35000 and 50000
genes
Every gene is made up of thousands,
even hundreds of thousands of bases
 Genes in the News
What is the connection between
gene discoveries and cancer
Is there a connection between
genes and cancer’s diagnosis or
treatment
The answer lies in
– Understanding gene discoveries
– The science behind gene testing
– The ability to identify changes within
genes