Midterm 2 Outline

Prokaryotic translation
Prokaryotic gene regulation
Eukaryotic transcription
Eukaryotic translation
Eukaryotic gene regulation
Lecture 11: Translation continued
Wobble and degeneracy
Synthetase recognizing tRNA and the charging reaction
Ribosomes: protein synthesis machinery
o Nirenbergs in vitro translation system (for deciphering the genetic
code) showed that labeled proteins were associated w/ribosomes
o Put rxn in sucrose gradient & centrifuged ribosomal subunits
Polysomes (multiple ribosomes on each mRNA)
Function of ribosomal subunits
o Small: mediates interaction btwn codon & anticodon
Essential for initiation; binds the initial AUG with initiator
tRNA
o Large: catalyzes peptide bond formation
Binding sites for G proteins that assist in initiation, elongation,
& termination
Ribosomal subunits associate & dissociate
Subunits = 50% protein & 50% rRNA
o 30S small subunit = 5S rRNA + 23S rRNA + 34 proteins
o 50S large subunit = 16S rRNA + 21 proteins
o rRNA performs all important functions: catalyzes peptide bond
formation, recognizes start site, interacts w/tRNAs
o protein aids the rRNA
tRNA binding sites on the ribosome
o A site: aminoacyl-tRNA enters
o P site: peptide bonds are formed; initiator tRNA or peptidyl tRNAs
will bond here (need to have at least 1 peptide bond)
o E site: exit site where tRNA pauses as it exits
mRNA interacts w/the SMALL subunit only; no contact w/large subunit
Lecture 12: Translation continued; Gene regulation
Lecture 13: DNA Binding Motifs; Lac operon
Lecture 14: Regulation continued; Eukaryotic transcription