Central Dogma of

Molecular Biology

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The Flow of Genetic Information in the Cell

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▪ DNA Replication - the copying of parental DNA to
form daughter DNA molecules with identical
nucleotide sequences.
• Transcription - the process by which parts of the
genetic message encoded in DNA are copied precisely
into mRNA.
• Translation - the genetic message encoded in mRNA
is translated on the ribosomes into a polypeptide
with a particular sequence of amino acids.

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 Special cases
• Reverse Transcription - reverse process of normal cellular transcription of DNA into RNA (RNA -> DNA).
▪ Reverse transcriptase - encoded from the genetic material of retroviruses that catalyzes the
transcription of retrovirus RNA into DNA.

▪ Central to the infectious nature of retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
which causes AIDS, and human T-cell lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I), which causes leukemia.

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DNA REPLICATION

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Semiconservative Replication
• Each DNA strand serves
as a template for the
synthesis of a new
strand, producing two
new helices, each with
one new strand and
one old strand

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Meselson and Stahl Experiment

• Semiconservative replication of
DNA was established in the late
1950s by experiments performed
by Matthew Meselson and
Franklin Stahl.

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 In which direction does replication go?
• DNA double helix
unwinds at a specific
point called the
origin of replication
• DNA synthesis is
bidirectional in most
organisms, with the
exception of a few
viruses and
plasmids.
• Polynucleotide
chains are
synthesized in the 5'
to 3' direction.
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DNA REPLICATION
IN PROKARYOTES

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1. Initiation
▪ Helicase – unwinds DNA
▪ Topoisomerases – relieved the topological stress due to
unwinding of DNA

2. Elongation
▪ Primase – an enzyme that synthesizes short RNA sequences called
primers.
▪ Primer – strand segment with a free 3’ end for attachment
▪ DNA polymerase III – synthesize daughter strand DNA
▪ Okazaki fragments – short pieces of DNA synthesized
Discontinuously

3. Termination
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Summary of DNA replication process in prokaryotes
• DNA unwinds at the origin of replication.
• Helicase opens up the DNA-forming replication forks; these are extended in
both directions.
• Single-strand binding proteins coat the DNA around the replication fork to
prevent rewinding of the DNA.
• Topoisomerase binds at the region ahead of the replication fork to prevent
supercoiling (over-winding).
• Primase synthesizes RNA primers complementary to the DNA strand.
• DNA polymerase III starts adding nucleotides to the 3′-OH (sugar) end of
the primer.
• Elongation of both the lagging and the leading strand continues.
• RNA primers are removed and gaps are filled with DNA by DNA pol I.
• The gaps between the okazaki fragments are sealed by DNA ligase.

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• All synthesis of nucleotide chains
occurs in the 5' -> 3' direction
from the perspective of the chain
being synthesized.
• The last nucleotide added to a
growing chain has a 3'-hydroxyl
on the sugar. The incoming
nucleotide has a 5'-triphosphate
on its sugar. The 3'-hydroxyl
group at the end of the growing
chain is a nucleophile. It attacks
the phosphorus adjacent to the
sugar in the nucleotide to be
added to the growing chain,
leading to the elimination of the
pyrophosphate and the
formation of a new
phosphodiester bond 14
DNA REPLICATION
IN EUKARYOTES

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