1

Translation termination
• Termination codons – UAA, UAG, and UGA – are codons for which
there is no corresponding tRNA.
• When this codon is reached, the ribosome falls off and the last tRNA
is removed from the polypeptide.

2
Polyribosomal complex

3
 Eucaryotic transcription & translation
differs from procaryotic
1. Do not occur simultaneously. Transcription occurs in the nucleus
and translation occurs in the cytoplasm.
2. Eucaryotic start codon is AUG, but it does not use formyl-
methionine.
3. Eucaryotic mRNA encodes a single protein, unlike bacterial mRNA
which encodes many.
4. Eucaryotic DNA contains introns – intervening sequences of
noncoding DNA- which have to be spliced out of the final mRNA
transcript.

4
Split gene of eucaryotes

5
Multiplication of dsDNA viruses

6
Multiplication of +ssRNA

7
Regulation of protein synthesis &
metabolism
Operons
• a coordinated set of genes, all of which are regulated
as a single unit.
• 2 types
• inducible – operon is turned ON by substrate: catabolic
operons- enzymes needed to metabolize a nutrient are
produced when needed
• repressible – genes in a series are turned OFF by the
product synthesized; anabolic operon –enzymes used to
synthesize an amino acid stop being produced when they
are not needed

9
Lactose operon: inducible operon
Made of 3 segments:
1. Regulator- gene that codes for repressor
2. Control locus- composed of promoter and operator
3. Structural locus- made of 3 genes each coding for an enzyme
needed to catabolize lactose –
b-galactosidase – hydolyzes lactose
permease - brings lactose across cell membrane
b-galactosidase transacetylase – uncertain function

10