Chapter 4

Protein Synthesis -
Transcription
Lesson Learning Outcomes
• Identify the nucleotide structure of
DNA and RNA.

• Differentiate the RNA structure:

➢mRNA
➢tRNA
➢rRNA

• Define central dogma.

• Differentiate codon and anticodon.

• State and describe the process

involved in the transcription and
translation.
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 Protein Synthesis
From Gene to Protein
• The information content of DNA is in the form
of specific sequences of nucleotides.
• Proteins are the links between genotype and
phenotype.
• Gene expression, the process by which DNA
directs protein synthesis, includes two stages:
transcription and translation.

DNA mRNA Protein

Transcription Translation
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Overview of Protein Synthesis

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 Nuclear
envelope

DNA
TRANSCRIPTION
Overview of
Pre-mRNA
RNA PROCESSING Protein Synthesis
In Eukaryotic Cell
mRNA

TRANSLATION Ribosome

Polypeptide

Protein synthesis in eukaryotic cell

 DNA VS RNA
• There are two types of nucleic acids
(Polynucleotide) ;
1. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
2. RNA (ribonucleic acid).

• Basic components of nucleic acids are:

1. Pentose sugar (Ribose or Deoxyribose)
2. Nitrogenous bases:
➢ Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine ( C),
Uracil (U), Thymine (T).
➢A and G are Purine, T, C, U are Pyrimidine.
3. Phosphate group. 6
 DNA RNA
Double stranded Single stranded

Nitrogenous base Nitrogenous base

- Thymine, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine - Uracil, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine

Pentose sugar - Deoxyribose Pentose sugar – Ribose

3 forms RNA
1 forms DNA 1. rRNA
2. mRNA
3. tRNA
DNA can only be found in cell ‘s nucleus RNA could be found in nucleus and
cytoplasm.
 3 type of RNA (1 strand polynucleotide)
1. mRNA – Messenger RNA
❖ Linear single polynucleotide
❖ Carries the genetic code transcripted from DNA in the nucleus to the
ribosome in the cytoplasm for protein synthesis.
2. rRNA – Ribosomal RNA
❖ Synthesize in nucleolus. Site for protein synthesis.
❖ Contain large (50s) and small subunit (30s)– combines form ribosomes
- Organelle involve in translate mRNA to polypeptide.
3. tRNA – Transfer RNA
❖ Single stranded polynucleotide folded into clover – leaf shape
❖ Bring amino acid to ribosome during translation.
❖ 2 sides
- 1 side of tRNA molecule attaches to amino acids.
- Other has anticodon that complementary to codon on mRNA.
mRNA – linear
polynucleotide
rRNA - ribosome

E P A
tRNA

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 TRANSCRIPTION
DNA mRNA
From DNA transcribe into mRNA.
 Transcription
➢ Definition:
It is the process of making mRNA from a DNA sequence encoding
the gene as template, occur in nucleus.

❖ Gene – section of DNA that code for a defined biochemical

function, usually the production of protein.

• Very similar to DNA replication.

• Remember: as in replication, in transcription, addition of a new

nucleotide occurs at the 3’ end!

• Pairing is just as in DNA H-bonding:

A-U: 2 H bonds; G-C: 3 H bonds

• The RNA is made so that its sequence is complementary to the DNA:

➢ A transcribes U, G transcribes C, T transcribes A and C transcribes
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G
 Complementary Coding

• If the template DNA is:

3’-A-T-G-C-T-T-A-A-C-C-G-G-T-T-5’

• The transcribed mRNA is:

5’-U-A-C-G-A-A-U-U-G-G-C-C-A-A-3’

* addition of a new nucleotide occurs at the 3’ end!

* The mRNA grows in the 5’-3’ direction!

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 Steps in Transcription
1.Initiation: RNA polymerase binds and
unwinds DNA strand at promoter region.
➢ promoter region – sequence TATAAA
(TATA BOX) in DNA.
Transcription of gene begin, promoter is not
transcribed.

2.Elongation: The RNA polymerase moves

downstream, unwinding the DNA and
elongating the RNA transcript 5’ 3’. RNA
polymerase transcribes and add
complementary bases on gene region. In
the wake of transcription, the DNA strands
re-form a double helix.

3. Termination: RNA polymerase transcribes

the terminator sequence on DNA, all the
components separates: mRNA is released &
the RNA polymerase detaches from the DNA
- Terminator sequence which codes
polyadenylation signal (5’ AAUAAA 3’) in
the mRNA causes RNA polymerase
detach from DNA.
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 Quick Revision
1. What are the differences between DNA and RNA?
2. Explain the three types of RNA.
3. Differentiate the codon and anticodon.
4. What is the meaning of central dogma?
5. Describe the steps involved in transcription.
6. What is the direction of growing mRNA strand?
7. What is stop codon?
8. What is start codon?
9. Illustrate a diagram of the transcription process.

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