Session 4.

Unit 4: Development, Plants and the Environment

Topic 6: Infections, immunity and forensics

Transcription
Introduction
Structure of a gene
Transcription process
Splicing of exons

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Session 4.7

Unit 4: Development, Plants and the Environment

Topic 6: Infections, immunity and forensics

Transcription
Introduction
Structure of a gene
Transcription process
Splicing of exons

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Introduction

The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

DNA Replication
DNA content doubles

Transcription
Synthesis of RNA
A region of DNA is used to make one RNA

Translation
Synthesis of protein
One mRNA is used to make one protein

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Introduction
Structure of RNA

Sugar-phosphate backbone

5’ end
Uracil (U)

OH One RNA strand

“single-stranded RNA”
Adenine (A)
OH

Cytosine (C)
OH

Guanine (G)
OH
3’ end

Phosphate Ribose Nitrogen bases

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Introduction
There are many kinds of RNA

For expression of genes and beyond

 Regulation: siRNA, microRNA, snRNA

 Coding RNA: messenger RNA=mRNA
 Non-coding RNA: Tools in translation tRNA rRNA

mRNAs, tRNAs and rRNAs are used in translation

tRNA = Transfer RNA

rRNA = Ribosomal RNA
Used for protein synthesis
Part of Ribosomes
Brings amino acids

mRNA = Messenger RNA

Used as a template for protein synthesis
Intermediate between DNA and protein
Brings the “message” written in DNA
Message = instructions for synthesizing the protein

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Introduction

TRANSCRIPTION
DNA
Prokaryotes
mRNA
Ribosome
There is no nucleus,
TRANSLATION
Transcription AND translation take place in the cytoplasm
Protein

Nuclear
envelope

Eukaryotes
DNA
TRANSCRIPTION
Transcription takes place in the nucleus
Pre-mRNA
RNA is exported from the nucleus into the cytoplasm
MATURATION
Translation of mRNA takes place in the cytoplasm
mRNA

Ribosome
TRANSLATION

Polypeptide

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Session 4.7

Unit 4: Development, Plants and the Environment

Topic 6: Infections, immunity and forensics

Transcription
Introduction
Structure of a gene
Transcription process
Splicing of exons

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Structure of a gene

"Wait my signal before you start reading!"

"Stop reading!"
"read the information!"
Inactive/Active
Activated only if specific Contains the base pairs
Contains the bases that that make transcription
transcription factors bind
encode the amino acids of cease
these base pairs
the protein

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Session 4.7

Unit 4: Development, Plants and the Environment

Topic 6: Infections, immunity and forensics

Transcription
Introduction
Structure of a gene
Transcription process
Splicing of exons

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process

Complementarity
Gene 2
DNA
DNA RNA
Gene 1
A U
T A Gene 3
G C
C G

DNA strand 3' 5'

(template)

TRANSCRIPTION Complementary
Several RNA:
- ribosomal
- transfer RNA 5' 3'
- small nuclear Codon
- micro TRADUCTION
- messenger Overall direction
A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.
 Transcription process

Transcription
DNA RNA
Transcription is the use of a region of one strand of the DNA double helix as a
template to produce a molecule of RNA

This strand is called the non-coding strand/antisense strand

Other strand = coding strand/sense strand/non-template strand

Enzyme: RNA Polymerase

RNA Polymerase adds AMP, CMP, GMP and UMP

to a new RNA strand
AMP = Adenosine monophosphate

From the 5’P to the 3’OH end of the new RNA strand
From the 3’OH to the 5’P end of the template DNA strand

The RNA strand is complementary to its DNA template

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.
 Transcription process
Manual Transcription of DNA to RNA
DNA RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

5' 1 Denaturation 3'

aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga

ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

2. Transcribe the DNA coding strand only to RNA from 5’ to 3’ of the RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Coding strand
Sense strand
Non-template strand
5’a 3’ Non-coding strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Antisense strand
3’ 5’Template strand

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process
Manual Transcription of DNA to RNA
DNA RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

5' 1 Denaturation 3'

aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga

ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

2. Transcribe the DNA coding strand only to RNA from 5’ to 3’ of the RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Coding strand
Sense strand
Non-template strand
5’aa 3’ Non-coding strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Antisense strand
3’ 5’Template strand

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process
Manual Transcription of DNA to RNA
DNA RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

5' 1 Denaturation 3'

aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga

ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

2. Transcribe the DNA coding strand only to RNA from 5’ to 3’ of the RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Coding strand
Sense strand
Non-template strand
5’aau 3’ Non-coding strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Antisense strand
3’ 5’Template strand

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process
Manual Transcription of DNA to RNA
DNA RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

5' 1 Denaturation 3'

aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga

ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

2. Transcribe the DNA coding strand only to RNA from 5’ to 3’ of the RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Coding strand
Sense strand
Non-template strand
5’aauguag 3’ Non-coding strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Antisense strand
3’ 5’Template strand

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process
Manual Transcription of DNA to RNA
DNA RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

5' 1 Denaturation 3'

aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga

ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

2. Transcribe the DNA coding strand only to RNA from 5’ to 3’ of the RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Coding strand
Sense strand
Direction of transcription Non-template strand
5’aauguag 3’ 5’ to 3’ of RNA Non-coding strand
3’ to 5’ of coding/sense/non-template strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Antisense strand
3’ 5’ to 3’ of non-coding/antisense/template strand 5’ Template strand

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process
Manual Transcription of DNA to RNA
DNA RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

5' 1 Denaturation 3'

aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga

ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

2. Transcribe the DNA coding strand only to RNA from 5’ to 3’ of the RNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Coding strand
Sense strand
Non-template strand
5' 3'
aauguaguaguaaacuggugaaaugcaagguauuuauugcuaaggaagaugcuggaga Non-coding strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Antisense strand
3’ 5’Template strand
RNA is almost the same as the coding/sense/non-template strand (U instead of T)
RNA is complementary to the non-coding/antisense/template strand (CG GC / TA AU
A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.
Transcription process

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

Transcription process

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Transcription process

Comparison of DNA Replication and Transcription

Template DNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’

Result of DNA Replication

5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga Old DNA
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’
New DNA
5' 3'
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct
3’ 5’ RNA

Result of transcription
Coding strand
5' 3' Sense strand
aatgtagtagtaaactggtgaaatgcaaggtatttattgctaaggaagatgctggaga
Non-template strand

5' 3' Non-coding strand

aauguaguaguaaacuggugaaaugcaagguauuuauugcuaaggaagaugcuggaga Antisense strand
ttacatcatcatttgaccactttacgttccataaataacgattcgttctacgacctct Template strand
3’ 5’
A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.
 Transcription process

Non-template / Coding Template / Non-coding

Not individual tRNAs here

Rather… if you could put all the anticodons in tandem

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Session 4.7

Unit 4: Development, Plants and the Environment

Topic 6: Infections, immunity and forensics

Transcription
Introduction
Structure of a gene
Transcription process
Splicing of exons

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Splicing of exons

“Splicing” = joining two linear pieces together

 Most eukaryotic genes are discontinuous

The coding region of the gene is composed of two elements
- Exons = used in final/mature mRNA
- Introns = NOT present in final/mature mRNA

 But both exons and introns are present in the

initial/immature mRNA

Introns will be “eliminated” / spliced out

Exons will be spliced together

Mature mRNA is composed of exons only

Only exons contains the codons
Only exons are coding for proteins

This modification of pre-mRNA into mRNA happens after transcription

“Post-transcriptional modification”

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Splicing of exons

Alternative splicing

 Human body can make antibodies that are

- embedded in the membrane of Lymphocyte sB
- secreted by lymphocytes B

Two forms of the same proteins making up antibodies

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

 Splicing of exons

Alternative splicing
 Human genome contains less than 30 000 genes

 Human body can produce 10 billions of different antibodies

Several mechanisms to increase the number of antibodies

One is alternative splicing

A2 Edexcel Biology Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.