We think gene expression is a major part of what separates chimps and humans.

Kevin White

Gene Expression

Presented By-: Mohammad Rameez

Whats a gene?
gene (jn)
n. A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location on a chromosome and determines a particular characteristic in an organism. Genes undergo mutation when their DNA sequence changes. [German Gen, from gen-, begetting, in Greek words (such as genos, race, offspring).

And so the gene is

A segment of DNA It is inherited It is transcribed It may be translated
it has certain coordinates and sequence

genes in different organisms may be homologous

its sequence may be optimized for transcription its sequence may be optimized for translation

It has regulatory and other functional regions

the structure and sequence of these regions may have something in common

Where are the genes located?

Genes are located on the chromosomes. Every species has a different number of chromosomes. There are two types of chromosomes: autosomes and sex chromosomes

 Genes are located on the chromosomes which are found in the nucleus of a cell. When a cell is undergoing cell reproduction, the chromosomes are visible. Chromosomes appear when the chromatin condenses and become visible. Most of the time (90%) the genetic material in the form of chromatin. A genome is the complete genetic information contained in an individual.
(gene + chromosome)

Gene Expression
Gene expression is the process by
which a genes information is converted into the structures and functions of a cell by a process of producing a biologically functional molecule of either protein or RNA (gene product) is made.

Gene expression is assumed to be

controlled at various points in the sequence leading to protein synthesis.

Gene Structure
Eukaryotic gene structure: Most eukaryotic genes in contrast to typical bacterial genes, the coding sequence (exons) are interrupted by noncoding DNA (introns). The gene must have ( Exon; start signals; stop signals; regulatory control elements).

The Central Dogma

Proposed by Francis Crick 1958 DNA holds the coded hereditary information in the nucleus This code is expressed at the ribosome during protein synthesis in the cytoplasm The protein produced by the genetic information is what is influenced by natural selection If a protein is modified it cannot influence the gene that codes for it Therefore there is one way flow of information: DNARNAProtein

The central dogma of molecular biology

An organism may contain many types of somatic cells, each with distinct shape and function. However, they all have the same genome. The genes in a genome do not have any effect on cellular functions until they are "expressed". Different types of cells express different sets of genes, thereby exhibiting various shapes and functions. Gene expression" means the
Figure. Essential steps involved in the expression of protein genes.
production of a protein or a functional RNA from its gene. Several steps are required: Transcription: A DNA strand is used as the template to synthesize a RNA strand, which is called the primary transcript. RNA processing: This step involves modifications of the primary transcript to generate a mature mRNA (for protein genes) or a functional tRNA or rRNA. For RNA genes (tRNA and rRNA), the expression is complete after a functional tRNA or rRNA is generated. However, protein genes require additional steps: Nuclear transport: mRNA has to be transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Protein synthesis: In the cytoplasm, mRNA binds to ribosomes, which can synthesize a polypeptide based on the sequence of mRNA.

Overview of Gene Expression

TRANSCRIPTION

DNA mRNA Ribosome

TRANSLATION

Polypeptide

(a) Bacterial cell Nuclear envelope

TRANSCRIPTION

DNA

RNA PROCESSING

Pre-mRNA

mRNA

TRANSLATION

Ribosome Polypeptide

(b) Eukaryotic cell

Transcription

12

Transcription: The synthesis of a strand of mRNA (and other RNAs)

Uses an enzyme RNA polymerase Proceeds in the same direction as replication (5 to 3) Forms a complementary strand of mRNA It begins at a promotor site which signals the beginning of gene is not much further down the molecule (about 20 to 30 nucleotides) After the end of the gene is reached there is a terminator sequence that tells RNA polymerase to stop transcribing NB Terminator sequence terminator codon.

Process of Transcription
Transcription starts with RNA polymerase binding to the promoter. This binding only occurs under some conditions: when the gene is on. Various other proteins (transcription factors) help RNA polymerase bind to the promoter. Other DNA sequences further upstream from the promoter are also involved. Once it is bound to the promoter, RNA polymerase unwinds a small section of the DNA and uses it as a template to synthesize an exact RNA copy of the DNA strand. The DNA strand used as a template is the coding strand; the other strand is the non-coding strand. Notice that the RNA is made from 5 end to 3 end, so the coding strand is actually read from 3 to 5. RNA polymerase proceeds down the DNA, synthesizing the RNA copy. In prokaryotes, each RNA ends at a specific terminator sequence. In eukaryotes transcription doesnt have a definite end point; the RNA is given a definitive termination point during RNA processing.

Transcription Bubble

RNA Processing (Pre-mRNA mRNA)

Capping
Splicing Addition of poly A tail

The primary product of RNA transcription; the

hnRNAs contain both intronic and exonic sequences.

These hnRNAs are processed in the nucleus to give

mature mRNAs that are transported to the cytoplasm where to participate in protein synthesis.

RNA Processing

Capping
The

Splicing:

cap structure is added to the 5' of the newly transcribed mRNA precursor in the nucleus prior to processing and subsequent transport of the mRNA molecule to the cytoplasm.

Step by step removal of pre mRNA and joining of remaining exons; it takes
place on a special structure called spliceosomes.

RNA Processing

Addition of poly A tail:

Synthesis

of the poly (A) tail involves cleavage of its 3' end and then the addition of about 40- 200 adenine residues to form a poly (A) tail.

Transcription plan
Nucleus Gene

DNA Transcription messenger RNA

The Genetic Code

Translation of nucleic acids into amino acids

The words of the DNA language are triplets of bases called codons
The codons in a gene specify the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide

Codons: Triplets of Bases

The flow of information from gene to protein is based on a triplet code: a series of nonoverlapping, three-nucleotide words These triplets are the smallest units of uniform length that can code for all the amino acids Example: AGT at a particular position on a DNA strand results in the placement of the amino acid serine at the corresponding position of the polypeptide to be produced

 During transcription, one of the two DNA strands called the template strand provides a template for ordering the sequence of nucleotides in an RNA transcript During translation, the mRNA base triplets, called codons, are read in the 5 to 3 direction Each codon specifies the addition of one of 20 amino acids

Features of the Code

all 64 codons have been assigned 61 code for amino acids 3 (UAA, UAG, and UGA) serve as termination signals AUG also serves as an initiation signal (also Met) only Trp and Met have one codon each more than one triplet can code for the same amino acid; Leu, Ser, and Arg, for example, are each coded for by six triplets (degenerate) the third base is irrelevant for Leu, Val, Ser, Pro, Thr, Ala, Gly, and Arg

Features of the Code

for the 15 amino acids coded for by 2, 3, or 4 triplets, it is only the third letter of the codon that varies. Gly, for example, is coded for by GGA, GGG, GGC, and GGU the code is almost universal: it the same in viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes; the only exceptions are some codons in mitochondria

Gene 1 DNA molecule

Gene 3

Gene 2

DNA strand

TRANSCRIPTION

RNA Codon TRANSLATION

Polypeptide Amino acid

Virtually all organisms share the same genetic code unity of life Second Base
U C phe leu UCU UCC UCA UCG ser UAU UAC UAA UAG A tyr stop stop his gln asn lys asp glu UGU UGC UGA UGG G cys stop trp arg U C A G

UUU UUC UUA UUG

First Base

CUU CUC CUA CUG

leu

CCU CCC CCA CCG

ACU ACC ACA ACG GCU GCC GCA GCG

pro

CAU CAC CAA CAG

AAU AAC AAA AAG GAU GAC GAA GAG

CGU CGC CGA CGG

AGU AGC AGA AGG GGU GGC GGA GGG

U C A G
U C A G U C A G

Third Base

AUU AUC ile AUA AUG met (start) GUU GUC GUA GUG val

thr

ser arg

ala

gly

Translation

Translation
Translation is the process by which ribosomes read the genetic message in the mRNA and produce a protein product according to the message's instruction.

Ribosomes build polypeptides

Next amino acid to be added to polypeptide P site Large subunit A site Growing polypeptide tRNA

Growing polypeptide tRNA molecules

P
mRNA binding site

A
mRNA

Codons

mRNA

Small subunit

An initiation codon marks the start of an mRNA message

AUG = methionine
Start of genetic message

End

 mRNA, a specific tRNA, and the ribosome subunits assemble during initiation

Initiator tRNA P site

Large ribosomal subunit A site

Start codon mRNA

Small ribosomal subunit

Amino acid Polypeptide P site mRNA 1 Codon recognition A site

Anticodon

mRNA movement

Stop codon
New peptide bond 2 Peptide bond formation

Translocation

 Summary of transcription and translation

DNA

TRANSCRIPTION

mRNA RNA polymerase Amino acid TRANSLATION Enzyme

Stage 1 mRNA is transcribed from a DNA template.

Stage 2 Each amino acid attaches to its proper tRNA with the help of a specific enzyme and ATP.

tRNA

Initiator tRNA

Anticodon Large ribosomal subunit Start Codon Small ribosomal subunit

Stage 3 Initiation of polypeptide synthesis The mRNA, the first tRNA, and the ribosomal subunits come together.

mRNA

Growing polypeptide

New peptide bond forming

Codons mRNA

Stage 4 Elongation A succession of tRNAs add their amino acids to the polypeptide chain as the mRNA is moved through the ribosome, one codon at a time.
Polypeptide

Stop Codon

Stage 5 Termination The ribosome recognizes a stop codon. The polypeptide is terminated and released.

Thank You