DNA, RNA & PROTEINS
The molecules of life
Do Now:
1 - Take a look at POW - 12
2 - Answer - During interphase of
the cell cycle, what 2 significant
processes does DNA go through?
Process 1 - DNA Replication
Process 2 - The synthesis of proteins. Also
referred to as the Central Dogma
DNA
• Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
• is the blueprint for life:
Why does DNA replicate?
Cells copy genetic information before
cell division so that each new daughter
cell has a complete set of DNA
Review - DNA structure
• DNA is a polymer of
nucleotides
Each nucleotide composed of
_________________
_________________
_________________
Four DNA bases
Which purine pairs with which pyrimidine?
Chargaff's Rule
• Four kinds of nitrogenous bases:
• Purine bases
• Pyrimidine bases
Process 1 - DNA REPLICATION
(in the nucleus)
Essential Question:
How do enzymes
(proteins) help ensure
DNA is copied
correctly?
How does DNA replicate?
1) UNWIND: Topoisomerase
unwinds the coiled strands of DNA
2) UNZIP: DNA Helicase “unzips”
the strands of DNA breaking the
hydrogen bonds, creating two template
(parent) strands for replication
3) HOLD OPEN: Single-Strand Binding
proteins (SSBs) keep strands separated
4) BASE PAIRING: DNA polymerase
III bonds free nucleotides with nucleotides on
each template (parent) strand using base pairing
rules
5) PROOFREAD:
DNA Polymerase I
proofreads new
strands and
backtracks to
correct errors
6) JOINING
NUCLEOTIDES:
DNA ligase bonds
backbone together.
Replication Results:
• 2 identical DNA
molecules, each w/1
new strand & 1 old
strand
• Called Semi-
conservative
replication
Wrap up Question
Describe the structure and complementary base pairing of DNA.
1. DNA is made up of two strands that are twisted around each other to form a helix. Adenine
pairs up with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. The two strands are anti-parallel in
nature; that is, the 3’ end of one strand faces the 5’ end of other strand. Sugar, phosphate
and nitrogenous bases contribute to the DNA structure.
2. DNA is made up of two strands that are twisted around each other to form a helix. Adenine
pairs up with cytosine and thymine pairs with guanine. The two strands are anti-parallel in
nature; that is, the 3’ end of one strand faces the 5’ end of other strand. Sugar, phosphate
and nitrogenous bases contribute to the DNA structure.
3. DNA is made up of two strands that are twisted around each other to form a helix. Adenine
pairs up with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. The two strands are parallel in
nature; that is, the 3’ end of one strand faces the 3’ end of other strand. Sugar, phosphate
and nitrogenous bases contribute to the DNA structure.
4. DNA is made up of two strands that are twisted around each other to form a helix. Adenine
pairs up with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. The two strands are anti-parallel in
nature; that is, the 3’ end of one strand faces the 5’ end of other strand. Only sugar
contributes to the DNA structure.
Leading Strand
Nucleotides are added
in the SAME direction
as the replication fork,
creating a continuous
leading strand Replication Fork
Replication Fork
Lagging
Strand
Nucleotides added in the
opposite direction as the
replication fork create
Okazaki fragments on
lagging strand Okazaki
• Replication Fork ~ Directional movement of
replication
• Polymerase III only works in 5’ to 3’ direction
on BOTH parent strands
• This creates continuous replication on the
LEADING strand
• And Okazaki fragments on the LAGGING strand
are joined together by DNA ligase
Talk to a Partner
Talk to a Partner
Talk to a Partner
(Continuous Replication)
(Place where replication begins)
(Replication starts & stops)
PROTEIN SYTNESIS
• 1 step: Transcription
occurs in the nucleus
• 2 step: Translation
occurs in the cytoplasm
step 1 st
Transcription: DNA 🡪 RNA
• Transcription occurs in the nucleus
First: DNA unwinds in a section
Next: mRNA (messenger RNA) is formed by base pairing
with the parent strand of DNA. This begins transcription.
Then: mRNA carries the message about what type of protein to
make from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosome
Transcription
• Once mRNA is formed, enzymes in the nucleus
remove the
Introns (noncoding message)
and leave the
Exons (good message)
The Genetic Code
• Each 3 consecutive bases on the mRNA is a code word,
CODON, that specifies an amino acid.
• The genetic code consists of 64 codons,
• but only 61 code amino acids.
• Three codons act as
signal to stop the process
• One codon, AUG, codes
for methionine, and is also
the Start signal for translation.
2 nd
step
Translation: RNA 🡪 Protein
• Translation: synthesizing a code from amino
acids, according to the sequences of the
nucleotides in mRNA.
• Occurs at the ribosome, in cytoplasm of cell
• Ribosomal RNA, rRNA, is needed for protein
synthesis – helps mRNA bind to the ribosome
• tRNA, brings specific amino acids to the
ribosome to be assembled as proteins.
Translation
• Ribosomes are the sites of ______________
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
• Transport molecule
that carries specific
amino acid to a
ribosome
• Each tRNA recognizes
the correct codon on
the mRNA molecule
Translation
Steps in Translation
1. mRNA leaves the nucleus and migrates to ribosome
2. mRNA binds to small ribosomal subunit
3. tRNA brings an amino acid to the ribosome, where
anticodon on the tRNA binds to the codon of the
mRNA
4. The amino acid bonds to its adjoining amino acid to
form a growing polypeptide molecule
5. The tRNA without the amino acid is released from the
ribosome
6. Other tRNA’s bring amino acids to the ribosome to
complete the protein molecule
Protein translation
Protein synthesis
• Occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell
Summary:
Important
• Both DNA and RNA have a direction: one
end is the 3’ the other is the 5’ end.
• Thus, codons are read in one direction only.
• Also, note there is redundancy in the genetic
code: the different sequences can specify for
the same amino acid.
Example: _______________= Leucine
When things go wrong…
• Mutations: changes in the DNA sequence, that may be
passed along to future generations.
• Point mutations: a single base substitution
THE CAT SAW THE RAT
THE CAT SAW THE HAT
• Deletion: a small DNA segment is lost
• Insertion: a segment of DNA is added
• Frame-shift mutation: modification of the reading
frame after a deletion or insertion, resulting in all
codons downstreams being different.
Somatic Mutations
• ___________ mutations: occur in body cells,
or cells that do not lead to gametes.
• Somatic mutations that occur in leaves, roots
or stems are usually not passed on to future
generations…
• UNLESS the plant reproduces ____________
