CENTRAL DOGMA
OF
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
*Genes specify the sequence of mRNAs
* mRNAs specify the sequence of proteins
*Instructions on DNA are transciribed onto messenger RNA
*Ribosomes are able to read the genetic information
inscribed on a strand of messenger RNA
*These genetic information are use to string amino acids
together into protein
*DNA is acted upon by RNA polymerase
*RNA is transcribed by the ribosomes
*mRNA are translated to amino acids to proteins
*Every gene is a piece of DNA molecule
*Genes contains messages which are expressed
through certain complex processes
*Structures and characteristics are the expressions of
numerous genes found within the chromosomes
DNA and RNA = made up of monomers known
as nucleotides
Nucleotides = combine with each other to form
polynucleotide, DNA or RNA
Nucleotide components:
Nitrogenous base
Pentose sugar (5-Carbon)
Phosphate group
Each nitrogenous base is attached to a sugar; sugar is attached
to one or more phosphate groups
Carbon residues of sugar are numbered 1-5
Nitrogenous base is attached to position 1’ of the ribose and the
phosphate is attached to position 5’
When a polynucleotide is formed, the 5’ phosphate of the
incoming nucleotide attaches to the 3’ hydroxyl group at the end
of the growing chain
Types of pentose
ribose = found in RNA; has OH at position 2’
deoxyribose = found in DNA; has H at position 2’
Types of Nitrogenous bases
purines = have double C-N rings structure; adenine (A) and guanine (G)
pyrimidines = have single C-N ring structure; thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U)
Complementary bases: A-T; C-G; A-U
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid
The genetic material
Found in the nucleus in eukaryotes, chloroplasts, and mitochondria
Genome-the entire genetic content of a cell
Genomics-the study of genomes
Many genes contain the information to make protein products
Other genes contain code for RNA products
DNA STRUCTURE
Watson and Crick’s model
DNA ais made up of 2 strands twisted around each other to form right-
handed helix
Base pairings A-T; C-G; A-U are stabilized by hydrogen bonds
Two strands are anti-parallel: 3’ end of one strand faces 5’ end of the
other strand.
The sugar and phosphate of the nucleotides form the backbone of the
structure
The nitrogenous bases are stacked inside
Each pair is separated from the other pair by a distance of 0.34 nm,
each turn measures 3.4nm
10 base pairs are present per turn of the helix
The diameter of the helix is 2nm
RNA
Involved in protein synthesis
The DNA molecules never leave the nucleus but instead use an intermediary
to communicate with the rest of the cell
mRNA = messenger RNA
Single stranded
PROTEIN
Sequence and number of amino acids determines the protein
Each polypeptide has a free amino group at one end (N terminal)
The other end has a free carboxyl group (C terminal)
Protein example:
Pancreatic hormone insulin= has 2 polypeptide chains linked together
by disulfide bonds
N terminal amino acid Glycine; C terminal amino acid is aspargine
DNA REPLICATION
DNA divides and makes copies of itself
2 strands separate during replication, each strand serving as a
template from which the new complementary strand is copied
Conservative replication-parental DNA remains together, and the
newly formed daughter strands are together
Semi-conservative- each of the 2 parental DNA strands act as a
template for new DNA to be synthesized;after replication, each
double-stranded DNA includes one parental or “old” strand and
one “new” strand. When 2 daughter DNA copies are formed, they
have the same sequence and are divided equally into the 2
daughter cells
TRANSCRIPTION
The DNA is “read” or transcribed into mRNA molecule
mRNA provides the code to form a protein by a process called
“translation”
Through the process of transcription and translation, a protein is built
with a specific sequence of amino acids that was originally encoded in
the DNA
Transcription produces mRNA that carry information copied from DNA
Transcription begins when a molecule RNA polemerase binds to the
start site
One DNA strand is a template for synthesizing a complementary strand
of mRNA
Transcription ends when it meets the stop signal
Newly made mRNA chain leaves the nucleus and goes to the cytoplasm
TRANSLATION
mRNA message is translated into a chain of amino acids by means of
enzymes and tRNA
mRNA leaves the nucleus of the cell and goes out into the cytoplasm
and to the ribosomes, at the ribosomes mRNA directs the building of
proteins
Formation of proteins involves another kind of RNA (tRNA)
tRNA brings specific aa to mRNA accdg to the code sequence of bases
found on mRNA
tRNA picks a specific aa; aa attached to the tRNA at the end opposite
the three bases that will attach to mRNA, then tRNA brings the aa to
the mRNA
When aa are brought to the mRNA by tRNA, the amino acids join to
form protein
CENTRAL DOGMA OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
From DNA to Protein
Things to remember:
• Replication happens inside the nucleus. It follows a direction from 5’ and 3’
• Exact copy of DNA will be produced after replication
• Transcription happens inside the nucleus
• Transcribed mRNA are based on the command of the DNA bases
• Translation happens at the cytoplasm outside the nucleus
• tRNA caries the anticodon of the mRNA codon which brings corresponding
amino acid
• Amino acid are based on the codon
• Amino acid chain forms polypeptide chain
• Polypeptides becomes condense and eventually forms the specific proteins
