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FUNCTIONS OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

CENTRAL DOGMA
Note: those in red texts are just for notes 😊

Nucleic acids are polynucleotides. Long chain polymer of nucleotide monomers (building block).

Sequence of nucleotides in DNA and RNA are composed of nitrogen bases namely: A (adenine), T
(thymine), C (cytosine), G (guanine), U (uracil).

*DNA

 store genetic information that can be accessed by the organism and used to build protein
 pass down genetic information to offspring

DNA is divided up into functional units called genes. Each gene provides instructions for a functional
product, that is, a molecule needed to perform a job in the cell. In many cases, the functional product of
a gene is a protein. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/gene-expression-and-
regulation/translation/a/intro-to-gene-expression-central-dogma

*RNA

 transcribe information stored in DNA into a form that can be understood and read by the cell
 assist in the protein synthesis process

RNA is the messenger that carries the information to the ribosomes

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Functions of nucleic acids:
 Basically store and carry genetic information in the cell (DNA)
 by directing the process of protein synthesis (DNA and RNA). What kind of protein to make? And
How much/many certain protein to be made?
o the nucleic acids are essential in building proteins
o Proteins, in turn, determine the structure and function of all your cells. What
determines a protein’s structure? It begins with the sequence of amino acids that make
up the protein. Instructions for making proteins with the correct sequence of amino
acids are encoded in DNA.
 they determine the inherited characteristics of every living thing (DNA)

CENTRAL DOGMA

https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-the-central-dogma/#:~:text=The%20central%20dogma%20of%20molecular,this%20information
%20to%20the%20ribosomes%3F

Central Dogma

 The ‘Central Dogma’ is a theory on the fundamental process of information transfer in all living
cells and to be converted into a functional product that is protein.
 The central dogma of molecular biology was coined by Francis Crick in 1958. (Francis Crick
together with James Watson discovered of the structure of DNA)

The central dogma states that the process of information transfer occurs in our cells to make proteins is:

1. From existing DNA to make new DNA (DNA replication)

And these 2 major steps:

2. From DNA to make new RNA (transcription)

3. From RNA to make new proteins (translation).

So, the central dogma, in short, is:

or
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Image source: https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book

%3A_Introductory_Biology_(CK-12)/04%3A_Molecular_Biology/
4.01%3A_Central_Dogma_of_Molecular_Biology\
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REPLICATION
 Takes place in the cell nucleus.
 Yields two DNA molecules identical to the original.
 Ensures transmission of genetic info with remarkable accuracy.
 DNA replication needs to occur because existing cells divide to produce new cells.
 This process happens during the S phase of interphase of cell cycle, that is before the cell
divides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGLuO-NYRug

DNA replication is bidirectional

 Replication begins at points known as origins of replication and proceeds in both directions
from this origin
 At the origin, two replication forks are formed and move in opposite directions.

https://www.vedantu.com/question-answer/differentiate-between-the-following-a-a-leading-class-11-
biology-cbse-5f454ba455e8473a85d22e49

https://quizlet.com/423624493/test-2-flash-cards/
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DNA replication is semi discontinuous

 During the process of DNA replication, the replication occurs on one strand continuously.
This strand is known as the leading strand.
 On the other hand, replication occurs discontinuously on the other strand. Small fragments
of DNA are created. These fragments are known as the Okazaki fragments. This strand is
known as the lagging strand.

DNA replication is semiconservative

 One of the two strands of the parent is conserved in each of the newly formed DNA.
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PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
Involves two key steps: Transcription and Translation

TRANSCRIPTION
 Takes place in cell nucleus.
 Info from DNA is transferred to RNA.
 DNA base sequence is recorded as a sequence of complementary bases in RNA.

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA by DNA-dependent RNA polymerases based on a DNA template.

 An RNA strand is synthesized using one of the DNA strands as the template. RNA is only copied
from the template strand.
 The other DNA strand is designated as the non-template strand.
 RNA polymerase, an enzyme, temporarily unwinds the double helix at the site where
transcription will occur to create a transcription bubble.
 The new RNA strand has the same sequence as the non-template DNA strand. The template
DNA strand has a complementary sequence to the new RNA strand.
 The newly transcribed RNA is known as messenger RNA (mRNA). It carries sequences in DNA
that carry instructions for protein synthesis.
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TRANSLATION
 Takes place in ribosome of cell.
 Ribosomes organize translation and catalyze the reaction that joins amino acids to make a
protein chain.
 Process of “decoding” a messenger RNA (mRNA) and using its information to build a
polypeptide, or chain of amino acids.

Genetic Code

 The genetic code is a tool that allows for the translation of a sequence of nucleotide bases to a
sequence of amino acids.
 mRNA contains a sequence of three bases called a codon and it corresponds to a particular
amino acid.
 Each amino acid is carried by a transfer RNA (tRNAs) and each tRNA contains a set of three
nucleotides called an anticodon. The anticodon of a given tRNA binds to a matching mRNA
codon.
 As tRNA anticodons enter slots and bind to mRNA codons, their amino acids are linked to the
growing polypeptide chain until the entire sequence is translated into a protein.
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Codon Wheel is also known as an amino acid color wheel. It is a useful tool to easily find which amino
acid is translated from your RNA sequence.
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DNA and RNA Base Pairing Rules

Nitrogenous Bases of DNA and RNA

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What can happen if a change in the gene sequence occurs?

An important source of genetic variation comes from mutations. A mutation is a change in the DNA
sequence of a gene.

1. Most mutations may change a trait in a way that may even be helpful, such as enabling
an organism to better adapt to its environment.
2. Some mutations are harmful and can lead to genetic disorders or illnesses.
3. Some mutations are neutral which shows neither beneficial nor detrimental outcomes
to an organism.

The simplest mutation is a base substitution. This occurs when one nucleotide base is substituted for
another in a DNA sequence. The change can cause the wrong amino acid to be produced. In some cases,
the change has little effect. In other cases, the incorrect amino acid can affect the structure or function
of the protein being encoded.

Example of Base Substitution mutation leading to a disease:

Sickle cell anemia - This single mutation causes the amino acid valine to be encoded rather than
glutamic acid. This one change has a critical effect on the structure of the hemoglobin molecule,
causing the condition known as sickle cell anemia.

What causes mutations?

Mutations can arise in cells of all types as a result of a variety of factors, including chance which are
spontaneous events during replication. Also, environmental exposure to certain chemicals, ultraviolet
radiation, or other external factors can also cause DNA to change causing alterations in the molecular
structure of nucleotides, ultimately causing substitutions, insertions, and deletions in the DNA sequence.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/dna-is-constantly-changing-through-the-process-6524898/

https://www.britannica.com/video/189165/change-video-DNA-nucleotide-sequence-amino-
acid#:~:text=A%20mutation%20is%20a%20change,better%20adapt%20to%20its%20environment.
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CONCLUSION
However, the central dogma discussed was thought to be a universal rule, but following numerous new
discoveries (e.g., reverse transcriptase of RNA virus and splicing in higher organism), it is nowadays
considered an old concept. It is becoming clear that some aspects of the central dogma are not entirely
accurate because many researchers intensively analyzed the molecular mechanism of it with the aid of
newly advanced technologies.

Still the central dogma discussed was a breakthrough in the field of molecular biology as it was a
foundation to the more accurate and new discoveries of today.