RNA and Protein Synthesis

1) Transfer RNA Molecules Act as Adaptors That Translate Nucleotide Sequences into Protein
Sequences
2) Specific Enzymes Couple Each Amino Acid to Its Appropriate tRNA Molecule
3) Amino Acids Are Added to the Carboxyl-Terminal End of a Growing Polypeptide Chain
4) The Genetic Code Is Degenerate
5) The Events in Protein Synthesis Are Catalyzed on the Ribosome
6) A Ribosome Moves Stepwise Along the mRNA Chain
7) A Protein Chain Is Released from the Ribosome When Any One of Three Stop Codons Is
Reached
8) The Initiation Process Sets the Reading Frame for Protein Synthesis
9) Only One Species of Polypeptide Chain Is Usually Synthesized from Each mRNA Molecule in
Eucaryotes
10) The Overall Rate of Protein Synthesis in Eucaryotes Is Controlled by Initiation Factors
11) The Fidelity of Protein Synthesis Is Improved by Two Proofreading Mechanisms
12) Many Inhibitors of Procaryotic Protein Synthesis Are Useful as Antibiotics
13) How Did Protein Synthesis Evolve?
14) Summary

DNA Repair

1. DNA Sequences Are Maintained with Very High Fidelity

2. The Observed Mutation Rates in Proliferating Cells Are Consistent with Evolutionary Estimates
3. Most Mutations in Proteins Are Deleterious and Are Eliminated by Natural Selection
4. Low Mutation Rates Are Necessary for Life as We Know It
5. Low Mutation Rates Mean That Related Organisms Must Be Made from Essentially the Same
Proteins
6. If Left Uncorrected, Spontaneous DNA Damage Would Rapidly Change DNA Sequences
7. The Stability of Genes Depends on DNA Repair
8. DNA Damage Can Be Removed by More Than One Pathway
9. Cells Can Produce DNA Repair Enzymes in Response to DNA Damage
DNA Replication

1. Base-pairing Underlies DNA Replication as well as DNA Repair

2. The DNA Replication Fork Is Asymmetrical
3. The High Fidelity of DNA Replication Requires a Proofreading Mechanism
4. Only DNA Replication in the 5'-to-3' Direction Allows Efficient Error Correction
5. A Special Nucleotide Polymerizing Enzyme Synthesizes Short RNA Primer Molecules on the
Lagging Strand
6. Special Proteins Help Open Up the DNA Double Helix in Front of the Replication Fork
7. A Moving DNA Polymerase Molecule Is Kept Tethered to the DNA by a Sliding Ring
8. The Proteins at a Replication Fork Cooperate to Form a Replication Machine
9. A Mismatch Proofreading System Removes Replication Errors That Escape from the Replication

Genetic Recombination
1. General Recombination Is Guided by Base-pairing Interactions Between Complementary Strands
of Two Homologous DNA Molecules
2. General Recombination Can Be Initiated at a Nick in One Strand of a DNA Double Helix
3. DNA Hybridization Reactions Provide a Simple Model for the Base-pairing Step in General
Recombination
4. General Genetic Recombination Usually Involves a Cross-Strand Exchange
5. Gene Conversion Results from Combining General Recombination and Limited DNA Synthesis
6. Mismatch Proofreading Can Prevent Promiscuous Genetic Recombination Between Two Poorly
Matched DNA Sequences
7. Site-specific Recombination Enzymes Move Special DNA Sequences into and out of Genomes
8. Transpositional Recombination Can Insert a Mobile Genetic Element into Any DNA Sequence

Viruses, Plasmids, and Transposable Genetic Elements

1. Viruses Are Mobile Genetic Elements
2. The Outer Coat of a Virus May Be a Protein Capsid or a Membrane Envelope
3. Viral Genomes Come in a Variety of Forms and Can Be Either RNA or DNA
4. A Viral Chromosome Codes for Enzymes Involved in the Replication of Its Nucleic Acid
5. Both RNA Viruses and DNA Viruses Replicate Through the Formation of Complementary
Strands
6. Viruses Exploit the Intracellular Traffic Machinery of their Host Cells
7. Different Enveloped Viruses Bud from Different Cellular Membranes
8. Viral Chromosomes Can Integrate into Host Chromosomes
9. The Continuous Synthesis of Some Viral Proteins Can Make Cells Cancerous