Expression of Biological Information

DNA &
genetic
informatio
n
DNA
structure

DNA as a
carrier

DNA
replicatio
n

Gene concept
Definition
Models of DNA
replication
DNA replication process
Enzyme involved

Protein
synthesis

Gene
regulation &
expression
concept
Components

Transcriptio
n

Mechanism
Translation

Overview the roles of transcription and translation in the

flow of genetic information
Explain transcription
Describe the stages involved:
i. initiation
ii. elongation
iii. termination
State the formation of mRNA strand from 5 to 3
Describe the relationship between base sequences in
codons with specific amino acids using genetic code table

DNA Replication

DNA

Overview the roles of

transcription and translation
in the flow of genetic
information

Transcription

RNA

Translation

Protein

Production of
hormones
Production of enzymes

transcribed into

translated to

Overview the roles of transcription and

translation in the flow of genetic information

RNA polymerase enzyme involved

Specific sequences of nucleotides along the DNA mark

where the transcription begin (promoter site) and
ends (terminator site)

The stretch of DNA that is transcribed into mRNA is

called a transcription unit

mRNA elongates in its 5 to 3 direction

 Involeve

3 steps

RNA POLYMERASE
BINDING AND
INITIATION
ELONGATION OF RNA
STRAND
TERMINATION

1) RNA polymerase binding

and initiation

RNA polymerase recognize and attaches to

promoter site on DNA.

Enzyme begins to separate the DNA strand .

Segment of DNA strand unwind.

As RNA polymerase
moves along the
template of DNA,
complementary RNA
nucleotides pair with
DNA nucleotides of the
strand.
RNA polymerase joins
the RNA nucleotides
together in the 5 to 3
direction

3)

Termination

Elongation of mRNA continues until RNA

polymerase reaches a terminator site on
the DNA

Terminator site causes the RNA

polymerase to stop transcribing DNA and
release the mRNA

mRNA will leave the nucleus through the

nucleus pore to the cytoplasm

Formation of mRNA strand

from 5 to 3
Most eukaryotic genes have interrupted coding sequence,
exons and introns
- Exon : A nucleotide sequence in a gene that codes for
parts or all of the gene product and is therefore
expressed in mature mRNA.
- Intron : A nucleotide sequence in a gene that does not
code for gene product.
: It usually transcribed in eukaryotes into mRNA
but subsequently removed from transcript before
Intron

Exon

Intron
translation.

Exon

Intron

A pre-mRNA contains both exon and intron

sequences
Introns must be removed and the exons
spliced together to form a continuous
protein-coding message

Intron

Exon

Intron

Exon

Pre-mRNA

Intron

mRNA

Genetic code
Genetic code: Base triplet in DNA provides a
template for ordering the complementary triplet
in mRNA molecule.

Every base triplet is code for ONE amino acid.

(very specific, almost universal)

Three bases of an mRNA codon are designated as

first, second and third bases.
Genetic code
A

A
DNA

Genetic code
There

are only FOUR nucleotide bases, to

specify 20 amino acids;
A-adenine,

C-cytosine, G-guanine, T-thymine

(unique to DNA), U-uracil (unique to RNA)
[pyrimidine, very similar to thymine].

Flow

of information from gene to protein

is based on triplet code.

Type of
code

Ambiguou
Number of
Number of s /
bases in
Codons
degenerat
codon
e

Singlet
code

Ambiguou
s

4*4=16

Ambiguou
s

Degenerat
4*4*4=64
e

Doublet
code
Triplet
code

A cell cannot directly translate a

genes base triplets into amino
acids.

1. Give ONE reason why DNA from the

nucleus is not esed directly by the
ribosome for the translation process.
less chances of damage to the DNA

PSPM 2007/2008

Feature of Genetic codes

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Triplet of bases
Almost universal
Non-overlapping
Commaless
Each codon is specific for one amino
acid
6. Degenerate / one amino acid can be
coded by several codons
7. Start codon AUG
8. Stop codon UAG, UAA, UGA

 Non-overlapping
Commaless
Genetic code
A

DNA

Genetic code
A

An mRNA molecule is complementary

rather than identical to its DNA template
according to base-pairing rules.

A-U, T-A, C-G, G-C

mRNA base triplets are called

codons.

A triplet of nucleotides
within a molecule of
messenger RNA that
functions as a unit of
genetic coding,
usually by specifying
a particular amino
acid during the
synthesis of proteins in
a cell

* also refer to any

corresponding
nucleotide triplets of
DNA that transcribed
into codons

Consist of triplet bases (3 bases)

One codon code for one amino

acid

Codon are complementary to

anticodon

A few codons specify

instructions during protein
synthesis (start & stop codon)

Customarily written in 5 to 3
direction

Initiation codon

Codon AUG is a starter to the process of translation.

Codon AUG has dual function, as a start signal /

initiation codon and it also code for amino acid
methionine (Met).

Polypeptide chains begin with methionine

An enzyme may subsequently remove starter amino

acid from chain.

Termination codon

Three triplet bases of STOP signal: UAA, UAG, UGA.

marking the end of a genetic code , and the completed

polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome..

Genetic massages begin with the mRNA codon AUG,

which signals the protein- synthesizing machinery to
begin translating the mRNA at the location.

Noticed that U only can be found on mRNA strand,

substitute for T (only on DNA strand).

U on mRNA pairs with A on DNA strand, while T on

DNA strand pairs with A on mRNA.