:

Expression of Biological
Information
 6.0 Expression of Biological
Information

6.1 DNA and genetic information

6.2 DNA replication
6.3 Protein synthesis: transcription and
translation
6.4 Gene regulation and expression – Lac
operon
 6.0 Expression of Biological
Information

6.1 DNA and genetic information

6.2 DNA replication
6.3 Protein synthesis: transcription and
translation
6.4 Gene regulation and expression – Lac
operon
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 Protein synthesis: transcription and translation

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
(AN OVERVIEW)
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 Protein synthesis: transcription and translation

What is Protein Synthesis?

• The process of making proteins from

DNA nucleotide message

• Protein synthesis relies on

complementary base pairing rules

• Importance in the production of

hormones and enzymes.
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 Overview the roles of transcription and translation in the flow of genetic information

There are 2 main processes in protein

synthesis:

1. Transcription

2. Translation
Protein Synthesis: Where and how
it happens?

DNA

Nucleus cytoplasm

Messenger RNA

protein
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription

The process by which genetic information contained

in DNA is transcribed into mRNA

Takes place in cell nucleus

•Enzyme involved is RNA polymerase

Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription and mRNA synthesis

Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription

Involve 3 stages :
i. Initiation
ii. Elongation
iii.Termination
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription
1) Initiation

 Then RNA
polymerase
bind to the
promoter
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription
1) Initiation

 RNA polymerase
begins to unwind
DNA helix and
initiates RNA
synthesis at the
start point on the
template strand
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription
2) Elongation

• elongating the RNA transcript in 5’ to 3’ direction

by adding a complementary nucleotide to the
bases of the DNA template.
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription
2) Elongation

 In the wake of transcription, the DNA strands

reform a double helix
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription
3) Termination

 RNA polymerase reach the sequence that

signals the end of transcription called
terminator (termination sites)
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Transcription
3) Termination

 the RNA transcript is released and RNA polymerase

detaches from the DNA
 Now the RNA transcript is called primary RNA
transcript (pre-mRNA)
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

RNA Splicing

 Initially, primary RNA transcript is

produced for the entire gene

 During RNA processing, introns

(noncoding sequence) are cut out of
primary RNA transcript before it is
used in polypeptide synthesis
(translation)
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

RNA Splicing
 Remaining exon sequences are
spliced together to form final
processed mRNA
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Differences Between Prokaryotic and

Eukaryotic Gene Expression

Eukaryotic
mRNA
molecules
have introns
cut out and
exons joined
together
before
translation
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 relationship between base sequences in codons with specific amino acids using genetic code
table
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 relationship between base sequences in codons with specific amino acids using genetic code
table
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain transcription

Features of genetic code

1. The code is triplet code.

2. The code is degenerate

3. It is universal

4. Stop codon : UAA, UGA ,

UAG

5. Start codon - AUG

Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation

Definition:
– The process of translation the genetic
information in mRNA into sequence of
amino acids in a polypeptide chain
during protein synthesis.
– Occur in cytoplasm.
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation

3 types:

1. Amino Acid Activation

2. initiation
3. Termination
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
1. Amino Acid Activation
The attachment
of amino acid
to 3’ OH end of
a specific tRNA
by aminoacyl-
tRNA
synthetases
forms
aminoacyl-
tRNA complex
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Initiation

tRNA molecule carrying the amino acid methionine

associates with the small ribosomal subunit forming the
intiation complex
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Initiation

The methionine charged tRNA (initiation complex)

locates the initiation codon “AUG”
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Initiation
The large
ribosomal
subunit joins
the initiation
complex, with
methionin-
charged tRNA
now
occupying the
P site
(peptidyl site)
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Elongation Codon recognition:
•The anticodon of
tRNA binds to the
codon exposed at the
A site (Aminoacyl
site)

•tRNA with a CAA

anticodon carry an
attached valine
amino acid
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Elongation
Peptide bond
formation:
•Val links to Met by a
peptide bond
•Free tRNA is released
from the P site, and
the ribosome shifts
by one codon, so the
growing polypeptide
moves to the P site
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Elongation

The free tRNA is

released via the
E site (not
shown here)
leaving the A
site (second
site) empty
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Elongation
Another anticodon
of tRNA bearing
GUU binds to the
codon at the A site
Pepetide bond
formation:
Histidine is links to
valine
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
2. Elongation •Free tRNA is
released from the
P site, and the
ribosome
advances, so the
growing
polypeptide
moves to the P
site
•The steps
described above
are repeated
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
When the ribosome
3. Termination reaches a stop
codon (UAG), a
releasing factor
rather than another
aminocyl tRNA is
coded
The polypeptide is
released from the
tRNA (hydrolysis of
the tRNA) in the P
site, freeing both the
polypeptide and the
tRNA
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Translation
3. Termination

The remaining
components (mRNA,
small ribosomal
subunit, and large
ribosomal subunit)
separate)
Learning Outcomes :
6.3 explain translation in protein synthesis

Polyribosome structure and function

• Several ribosomes may attach and translate the same

mRNA, therefore the name polyribosome.
 Complementary Base Pairing
gene
(a) complementary G C A T G G G A G T T etc.
DNA strand

template C G T A C C C T C A A
DNA strand etc.
codons

(b) mRNA G C A U G G G A G U U
etc.
anticodons

(c) tRNA U A C C C U C A A
etc.
amino acids
(d) protein Methionine Glycine Valine etc.