DNA replication
nucleic acid = chain of nucleotides bonded together
nucleotide = phosphate group bonded to a pentose sugar bonded to a nitrogenous base
nucleotides differ from each other only in the nitrogenous base (within a certain of nucleic acid)
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
pentose sugar = deoxyribose
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
pentose sugar = ribose
sugar-phosphate = alternating phosphate groups and sugar molecules along the chain of a
nucleic acid
when two nucleic acids anneal to each other, double-stranded nucleic acids are formed
the two strands must be antiparallel & complementary
for DNA: A - T, C - G
for RNA: A - U, C - G
chromosome = double-stranded molecule of DNA
replication begins at a particular DNA sequence called the 'origin of replication' (ori)
two replication forks will form traveling away from each other along the double-stranded DNA
gyrase, topoisomerase (relax double helix), helicase (separates double-stranded DNA into single-
stranded DNA)
single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (ssbp) / chaperone proteins keep single-stranded DNA
from reannealing
primase = randomly makes a 'primer' -- short strand of RNA annealed to the template DNA
DNA polymerase III = bind to a primer annealed to single-stranded DNA and begin adding
complementary and antiparallel nucleotides to the 3' end of the primer, has a relatively high
error rate
leading strand = new strand of DNA synthesized during replication which is synthesized
continuously
lagging strand = new stand of DNA synthesized during replication discontinuously -- in Okazaki
fragments
DNA polymerase I = catches most of the errors made by DNA polymerase III and corrects them,
replaces the primers with DNA nucleotides
DNA ligase = catalyzes the closing of gaps between Okazaki fragments
Gene expression: when a gene product is produced, the gene is expressed.
transcription: uses single-stranded DNA sequence as a template to produce a single-stranded RNA
molecule
carried out by RNA Polymerase, in eukaryotes transcription occurs in the nucleus
RNA polymerase can bind to a particular DNA sequence called a promoter
promoter = the sequence at which RNA polymerase binds to double-stranded DNA and begins to separate
the DNA strands and then transcribe one of the strands -- the strand that contained the promoter sequence
will transcribe until it reaches a terminator (DNA sequence that signals the end of transcription)
promoter & terminator are recognized by RNA polymerase, but not transcribed into RNA
mRNA = messenger RNA --> single-stranded RNA copies of DNA sequence that is destined for translation
rRNA = ribosomal RNA --> single-stranded RNA molecules that base-pair to themselves (stems & loops) -->
is a component of the ribosome
tRNA = transfer RNA --> single-stranded RNA molecules that base-pair to themselves (stems & loops) -->
have an amino-acid binding site on one end and an anticodon on the other end
codon = three nucleotides that specify an amino acid
anticodon = the complementary & antiparallel sequence to a specific codon
in eukaryotes, there is RNA processing / post-transcriptional modification
primary transcript = initial product of transcription includes introns
introns = fragments of non-coding sequence within a gene
exons = fragments of coding sequence within a gene
the primary transcript will have introns spliced out and exons spliced together
alternative exon splicing = multiple proteins are possible from a single gene
in addition, a 5' cap will be added to the mRNA -- functions like a shipping label
and a 3' tail will be added -- poly-A tail
translation: uses single-stranded RNA sequence as a template to produce a protein
carried out by ribosomes (complex of RNA and protein molecules), occurs in cytoplasm and at the rough ER
ribosomes are composed of two subunits (large & small) which assemble around an mRNA molecule
begin translation at a start codon (AUG -- does specify an amino acid -- methionine)
stop translation at a stop codon (3 different stop codons -- none of them code for an amino acid)
operons = DNA sequence that contains the code for multiple, related genes that is transcribed as a single
mRNA
operators = DNA sequences that are bound by regulatory proteins which can influence transcription
if an operator sequence is between the promoter and a gene, when the regulatory protein is present it will
block RNA polymerase from transcribing
repressor proteins = bind to operators between the promoter and the gene, effectively silencing gene
expression
if an operator sequence is before the promoter, when the regulatory protein is present it may help or
stimulate RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter and being transcribing
activator / inducer proteins = bind to operators and make transcription occur more often
mutation
