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Cell Nucleus - Commanding The Cell: Bacteria Cell Nuclear Membrane Membrane
Cell Nucleus - Commanding The Cell: Bacteria Cell Nuclear Membrane Membrane
The nucleus is not just a storage compartment for DNA. It's the site of some essential cellular
processes. First, DNA can be duplicated in the nucleus. This process is called replication and
creates an identical copy of DNA. Creating two identical copies of the owner's manual is the
first step in cell division, where each new cell will get its own set of instructions.
Second, the nucleus is the site of transcription. The central dogma of biology states that DNA
is copied into RNA, which is then turned into protein.
Transcription is the process of creating different types of RNA from DNA. Transcription
would be like making copies of individual pages of the owner's manual that can then be
passed out and read by the rest of the cell.
There are three types of RNA that are formed in the nucleus. mRNA, or messenger RNA, is a
code that can be read by the cytoplasmic structure called the ribosome during translation.
Translation is a process that creates proteins from mRNA. A ribosome, which we will
discuss in future lessons, is made up of proteins and a second type of RNA, rRNA or
ribosomal RNA. tRNA, or transfer RNA, is also used during the process of translation. All
three of these RNA types - mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA - are created by the process of
transcription within the nucleus.
Import proteins help NLS proteins pass through the nuclear pores
The nucleus is the structure responsible for containing DNA and providing a place for
replication and transcription. These processes make sure that the instructions on how to make
you who you are carried out. This is obviously a very important job, so to keep the cell
functioning at top speeds, the nucleus is a well-organized structure.