CENTRAL DOGMA OF

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
TRANSCRIPTION

Synthesis of mRNA
What is it?

-is the process in which

a gene's DNA sequence
is copied (transcribed)
to make an RNA
molecule.
ENZYME

 RNA POLYMERASE - multi-unit enzyme

that synthesizes RNA molecules from a
template of DNA.
DID YOU KNOW?.

The death cap

mushroom, Amanita
phalloides, causes death
by inhibiting the process
of transcription.

Its toxin, amanitin, blocks

RNA Polymerase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLz2A1cjPH8
During transcription,

 A section of DNA containing the gene

unwinds
 One strand of DNA bases is used as a
template
 mRNA is synthesized using complementary
base pairing with Uracil (U) replacing thymine
(T)
 The newly formed mRNA moves out of the
nucleus to ribosomes in the cytoplasm
Step 1: Initiation

 RNA polymerase attaches to the DNA

molecule and moves along the DNA strand
until it recognizes a promoter sequence.
These are known as the transcription start
sites. The DNA double helix then unwinds and
all the bases on each of the DNA strands are
exposed. This acts as a template for a new
mRNA strand.
INITIATION
Step 2: Elongation

 One DNA strand (the template strand) is read in a 3′ to

5′ (three-prime to five-prime) direction, and so provides
the template for the new mRNA molecule. The other
DNA strand is referred to as the coding strand.

 RNA polymerase uses incoming ribonucleotides to form

the new mRNA strand. It does this by catalysing the
formation of phosphodiester bonds between adjacent
ribonucleotides, using complementary base pairing (A to
U, T to A, C to G, and G to C). Bases can only be added to
the 3′ end, so the strand elongates in a 5’ to 3’ direction.
ELONGATION
Step 3: Termination

Elongation continues until the RNA

polymerase encounters a stop
sequence. At this point, transcription
stops, and the RNA polymerase releases
the DNA template. The mRNA strand is
complete, and it detaches from DNA.
1. What are promoter sequences?

 Promoter sequences are the gene sequences

where the DNA transcription begins. These
are located upstream at the 5′ end of the
DNA sequence.
2.Where does the transcription start?

 The transcription starts at the 5′-end of the

DNA sequence.
3. The enzyme required for
transcription is
 A. DNA polymerase
 B. stop codon
 C. promoter sequence
 D. RNA polymerase
4.The transcription of RNA from DNA takes place in
several steps. In which step of transcription does
RNA polymerase actively build the mRNA strand
by attaching RNA bases to one another one by one
by using the DNA as a template?

ELONGATION
5. The diagram shows the beginning of a
transcription process. The enzyme has split the
DNA strands apart, and is building a new RNA
molecule on the template strand. What would be
the next four bases in the RNA chain?