DNA Transcription and

Translation

Sections 12.3 and 12.4

Do Now
 1. What is RNA

 2. How does it differ from DNA?

 3. What is protein?
Gene
 Segment of DNA that codes for a
protein
 DNA codes for RNA and RNA makes
protein
One Gene – One Enzyme
 The Beadle and Tatum experiment
showed that one gene codes for one
enzyme.
 One gene codes for one polypeptide.
 polypeptide - a chain of covalently
bonded amino acids.
 (proteins are made of one or more
polypeptide)
12.3 DNA, RNA, and
Protein
Let’s make some observations
about RNA’s structure
RNA
 RNA stands for:
 Ribonucleic acid
 RNA is found:
 Nucleus and Cytoplasm
RNA Structure
 Like DNA, RNA is made up of subunits
called _____________, which are made
of three parts:
 Sugar (ribose)
 Phosphate
 Nitrogen Base
RNA’s Nitrogen Bases
 Adenine (A)
 Cytosine (C)
 Guanine (G)
 Uracil (U)
There are 3 types of RNA:
 Messenger RNA (mRNA)
 Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
 Transfer RNA (tRNA)
All RNA is …
 Single stranded
 Many different shapes
 “Cheap copy” of DNA
Do Now
 1. What is a protein made of?

 2. Explain the process between DNA

and proteins.
Transcription
 First step in making proteins
 Process of taking one gene (DNA) and
converting into a mRNA strand
 DNA -> RNA
 Location:
 Nucleus of the cell
 Steps to Transcription

 1. An enzyme attaches to the promoter

(start signal region) of a gene and
unwinds the DNA
Steps to Transcription (Cont.)
 2. One strand acts as a template.
Steps to Transcription (Cont.)
 3. A mRNA copy is made from the DNA
template strand by RNA polymerase

 4. A mRNA copy is made until it reaches

the termination (stop signal) sequence

 5. The two strands of DNA rejoin.

Template vs. Non Template
Strand
Transcription animations
 http://www-class.unl.edu/biochem/gp2/
m_biology/animation/gene/gene_a2.ht
ml
 http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~johnson/
teaching/genetics/animations/transcripti
on.htm
Transcribe this DNA to mRNA
 Think- Pair- Share
 1. Where in the cell does transcription occur?
 2. What nucleic acids are involved in the process of
transcription?
 3. What is the importance of transcription?
 4. In transcription, how come the whole DNA molecule
is not copied into mRNA?
 5. How does one gene differ structurally from
another?
 6. Because one gene differs from another, what
molecules in the cell will also be different?
mRNA Processing
 Pre-mRNA – the original sequence of
RNA created during transcription
 mRNA reaches the ribosomes
RNA Processing
 What is RNA Processing?

 After transcription the pre-mRNA molecule

undergoes processing
 5’ cap is added
 Poly A tail is added to the 3’ end
 Introns are removed.
Do Now
 Label the Transcription diagram
 RNA Processing
 In Eukaryotes only
 Introns- non-coded sections
 Exons- codes for a protein
 Before RNA leaves the nucleus, introns are removed
and exons are spliced together
 A cap and poly A tail are added to ends of the
sequence
 mRNA leaves the nucleus through the nuclear pores
Why is it necessary to add the poly A tail
and 5’ cap?
Let’s try an activity (11.5)
 http://www2.pearsonsuccessnet.com/sn
papp/iText/products/0-13-115075-8/ind
ex.html
Pg. 339
 Pg. 339
Let’s an example…
 Original DNA Sequence (DNA):
 5’ GTACTACATGCTATGCAT 3’
 Translate it (RNA):
 3’ CAUGAUGUACGAUACGUA 5’

 Add the 5’ cap:

 3’ CAUGAUGUACGAUACGUA 5’ cap
 Finish the job!
 Remove the introns “UGUA” and “AUAC”:
3’ CAUGAUGUACGAUACGUA 5’ cap
3’ CAUGACGGUA 5’ cap

Add a poly A tail onto the 3’ end

Poly A tail 3’ CAUGACGGUA 5’ cap
Get a new partner!
 DNA Strand of non-template strand:
 5’ ATCGGTAGAGTATTTACAGATA 3’

 Remove introns:
 CGGUA UUACAG
 Think, Pair, Share
 Take a minute think on your own, then pair
with your partner, and share your ideas!
 Evolutionary, why do you think there are
introns?
 Where did they come from?
 Why do we have them?
 Remember there is NO wrong answer!
PROTEINS!
 Proteins are made up of
amino acids!!!
 Proteins are polymers of amino acids
 Only 20 different amino acids
 BUT there are hundreds of thousands of
different proteins

How can this be?

Let’s compare to it to the
English language
 How many letters are in the alphabet?
A,b,c,d,…
26
 How many words are there?

Miss, Ings, is, smart, ..

Almost infinite!
 Each word has a unique structure of letters.

 Similar to proteins and amino acids

Proteins- (PCFNa)

-made of 20 different Amino Acids

- Amino Acids bond to form polypeptide
chains
 How do amino acids form
these peptide chains?
Peptide Bonds – Link each amino acids
together to form proteins
How many amino acids are in
a dipeptide chain?

How about a tripeptide chain?

How many water molecules are

formed from 2 amino acids?

How many water molecules are

formed from 100 amino acids?
 Do Now
 Perform transcription on this DNA segment:
GCTTCATACGA

 Do RNA processing and remove the introns: GAA

and UGC

 How does this mRNA sequence leave the nucleus?

 Where does it go?

Protein
Structure

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/boyer/0471661791/structure/HbMb/hbmb.htm
Translation
 Production of proteins from mRNA
 mRNA goes to the ribosomes in the
cytoplasm or the RER and produces
proteins
 Steps to Translation
 1. mRNA leaves the nucleus and binds to
a ribosome
 2. the 5’ end of mRNA binds to ribosome
Ribosome
 Two subunits to the ribosome
 3 grooves on the ribosome (A, P, E)
 A: tRNA binding site
 P: polypeptite bonding site
 E: exit site
 Steps to Translation (Cont.)
 3. Ribosome looks for the start Codon
(AUG)
 Codon: group of 3 nucleotides on the
messenger RNA that specifies one amino
acid (64 different codons)
 Steps to Translation (Cont.)
 4. Amino acids attached to a tRNA
molecule and are brought over to the
mRNA.
 5. This tRNA has an anticodon that
matches the codon on the mRNA strand
Anticodon:
Group of 3 unpaired
nucleotides on a tRNA
strand. (binds to mRNA
codon)
tRNA
Think-Pair-Share
 The mRNA sequence reads the following
codons: What amino acids do they stand for?
 AUG
 GGA
 GAG
 CAA

** What amino acid does the anticodon CGU stand

for?***
 Steps to Translation (Cont.)

 6. tRNA binds to the mRNA sequence and

adds an amino acid
 7. Each amino acid matches up with 1-6
tRNA molecules
 8. tRNA leaves and amino acids bond
together through a polypeptide bond
Think – Pair - Share
 Find the amino acid sequence for the
following mRNA sequence (translation)

 AUGCGACGAAUUUAA
Translation Animations
 http://www-class.unl.edu/biochem/gp2/
m_biology/animation/gene/gene_a3.ht
ml
 http://www.stolaf.edu/people/giannini/f
lashanimat/molgenetics/translation.swf
Steps to Translation (Cont.)
 9. The mRNA sequence continues until
a stop codon is reached.
 10. The amino acids disconnect from
the mRNA sequence and a protein is
formed.
 Think-Pair-Share
 Get with a partner, one partner
transcribes and the other translates.
Do Now
Do transcription on this DNA sequence:
CGTACGCTCCCTAGACTA

Do Translation- Remember to start the

right place!
Do Now
Do transcription on this DNA sequence:
TTTTATACTGAGGGTTAACTCGT

Do Translation- Remember to start the

right place!
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
1. Initiation
 The two ribosomal subunits come
together with the mRNA and the first
tRNA molecule which attaches to the
start codon (AUG).
 This is the only tRNA that will attach to
the P site.
 The first amino acid is always
methionine.
2. Codon Recognition
 The tRNA anticodon will hydrogen bind
to the mRNA codon in the A site.
3. Bond Formation
 The amino acid in the P site will form a
peptide bond with the amino acid in the
A site.
4. Translocation
 The tRNA's and the mRNA move down
one site. The empty tRNA is released
from the exit site.
5. Repeat
 This process will repeat hundreds of
times.
6. Termination
 Translation is terminated with the
stop codon is reached. There are three
different stop codons UGA, UAA, UAG.
 The release factor recognizes the stop
codon and releases the polypeptide
strand. All the factors break apart and
are reused.
 Do Now
 Take the following amino acid sequence, do
reverse transcription and translation (find
RNA and DNA).
 Methionine, Arginine, Alanine, Serine,
Tryptophan, Tyrosine, Leucine, Valine,
stop
 What do you notice about your DNA
sequences?
 Do Now
 Template strand of DNA:
 5’ TTACGGCTAGGAGTAGCCGAATTCTG 3’

 Remove the introns: CUCAUC

 Determine protein sequence

Do Now
How do cells know what
protein to make when?
 Gene Regulation: ability of an
organism to control which genes are
transcribed.
 Controlling Transcription
 Transcription factors ensure that a gene
is used at the right time and that
protein are made in the right amounts
 The complex structure of eukaryotic
DNA also regulate transcription.
HOX Genes
 Everyone develops from a zygote
 Zygote undergoes mitosis
 Cell differentiation: cells become
specialized
 Certain gene sequences determine cell
differentiation
 HOX Genes

 Homeobox Genes
(Hox Genes) are
sequences of DNA
 Hox genes are
responsible for the
general body pattern
of most animals.
 HOX Genes
 Are transcribed at specific
times, and located in specific
places on the genome
 Mutations:
Telephone
 We are going to play the game
telephone.

 Every time a DNA makes a copy

(spreading of a message), mutations
can happen (mistakes in a message)
Mistakes in DNA
 Cell make mistakes in replication, and
transcription
 Most often these mistakes are fixed
 EX.
 Mutations
 A permanent change that occurs in a
cell’s DNA is called a mutation.
 Three types of mutations:
 Point mutation
 Insertion
 Deletion
 Point Mutation
 Substitution: A change in just one base pair
 Missense Mutation: amino acid is change
 Nonsense Mutation: amino acid is changed to a
stop codon
 Frameshift Mutations
 Causes the reading
frame to shift to the
left or the right
 Insertion: Addition
of a nucleotide
 Deletion: Removal
of a nucleotide
ACGAAATACAGACAT
 Decide what type of mutation occurred:

 ACGAAATAGAGACAT

 ACAAATACAGACAT

 ACGAAATACAGGACAT
Causes of Mutations
 Mutations can happen spontaneously
 Mutagens: Certain chemicals or
radiation that can cause DNA damage
 Causes bases to mispair and bond with
the wrong base
 High-energy forms of radiation, such as
X rays and gamma rays, are highly
mutagenic.
Sex Cell vs. Somatic Cell
Mutations
 Somatic cell mutations are not passed
on to the next generation.
 Mutations that occur in sex cells are
passed on to the organism’s offspring
and will be present in every cell of the
offspring
Chromosomal Mutations
 Piece of chromosome can be broken
off, duplicated, or moved to another
chromosome
 Fragile X Syndrome
 Repeat of CGG about
30 times
 Causes mental and
behavior impairments
 Protein Folding and Stability
 Substitutions also can lead to
genetic disorders.
 Ex. Sickle Cell Anemia (caused
by a substitution mutation)
 Can change both the folding
and stability of the protein
Sickle Cell Anemia
Causes of Mutations
 Mutations can happen spontaneously
 Mutagens: Certain chemicals or
radiation that can cause DNA damage
 Causes bases to mispair and bond with
the wrong base
 High-energy forms of radiation, such as
X rays and gamma rays, are highly
mutagenic.
Sex Cell vs. Somatic Cell
Mutations
 Somatic cell mutations are not passed
on to the next generation.
 Mutations that occur in sex cells are
passed on to the organism’s offspring
and will be present in every cell of the
offspring