Central Dogma

of Life
DNA, RNA and Protein
Synthesis
The Central Dogma (Francis Crick):
DNA replication
DNA transcription mRNA translation Protein
(genome) (transcriptome) (proteome)

Expression and transfer of genetic information:

Replication: process by which DNA is copied with very high
fidelity.
Transcription: process by which the DNA genetic code is read
and transferred to messenger RNA (mRNA). This is an
intermediate step in protein expression
Translation: The process by which the genetic code is converted
to a protein, the end product of gene expression.

The DNA sequence codes for the mRNA sequence, which

codes for the protein sequence
Who made the first ever model of DNA as
a double helix?

 James Watson and Francis Crick

Rosalind Franklin contributed to
determining the structure of DNA.

 She produced an X-Ray diffraction photo

that showed DNA.

 paved the way for the discovery of the

structure of DNA.
Complementary base pairs in DNA:

 Adenine – Thymine
 Guanine - Cytosine
 DNA Replication
 The process of copying double-stranded DNA molecules

 Semi-conservative replication (would produce two copies that each contained one of the original strands and one
new strand)
 
 Origin of replication
 Replication Fork

 Proofreading mechanisms
DNA Replication:
 Protein Synthesis
Flow of Information:
DNA RNA Proteins
Transcription Translation
Transcription is the process by which a
molecule of DNA is copied into a
complementary strand of RNA.

This is called messenger RNA (mRNA)

because it acts as a messenger between DNA
and the ribosomes where protein synthesis is
carried out.
Protein Synthesis Transcription
Transcription process
•RNA polymerase (an enzyme)
attaches to DNA at a special
sequence that serves as a
“start signal”.
•The DNA strands are separated and
one strand serves as a
template.
•The RNA bases attach to the
complementary DNA template,
thus synthesizing mRNA.
Protein Synthesis: Transcription

•The RNA polymerase recognizes

a termination site on the DNA
molecule and releases the new
mRNA molecule.
(mRNA leaves the nucleus and
travels to the ribosome in the
cytoplasm.)
Protein Synthesis: Translation
Translation is the process of decoding
a mRNA molecule into a polypeptide
chain or protein.
Each combination of 3 nucleotides on
mRNA is called a codon or three-
letter code word.
Each codon specifies a particular
amino acid that is to be placed in
the polypeptide chain (protein).
3 types of RNA:

 mRNA – carries code from DNA out

into cytoplasm; codons on mRNA
code for 1 amino acid
 tRNA – transfers amino acids to the
ribosome based on mRNA codons
 Anticodon is complementary to codon
 rRNA – makes up subunits of the
ribosome (which are the protein-
makers)
What happens to the newly made mRNA
molecule following transcription in the nucleus?

 mRNA travels out the nuclear pores

into the cytoplasm and attaches to
the ribosome
What is RNA polymerase & what is
its function?

 Enzyme that copies DNA into RNA

What bases pair with each other
during transcription?

 DNA  RNA
 Cytosine  guanine
 Guanine  cytosine
 Adenine  uracil
 Thymine  adenine
In what part of a cell are proteins
made?

 Ribosomes, floating in the

cytoplasm or attached to the rough
endoplasmic reticulum
What are the subunits called that
make up proteins?

 Amino acids
How many different kinds of amino
acids make up proteins?

 There are 20 amino acids and they

can be combined in all different
combinations to create every
protein in your body
 Everything in you is made OF or BY
at least one protein
What is a codon & what does each
codon code for?

 Group of three bases on mRNA

 Codes for 1 amino acid
How many codons exist?
 64
What are the START (1) and STOP (3)
codons for protein synthesis?

 Start codon = AUG

 Stop codons = UAG, UAA, UGA
 What is the ‘start’ codon used for? What
is the stop codon used for?

 Start codons initiate protein

synthesis (tell the ribosome to start
making the protein)
 Stop codons halt protein synthesis
(tell the ribosome that the protein is
done)
Proteins are synthesized (made) at what
organelle in the cytoplasm?

 Ribosomes
 Describe translation from the beginning,
to the final end product:

 mRNA attaches to ribosome

 tRNA carries amino acids to ribosome
and matches them to coded mRNA
message (codon)
 Amino acids bond together, forming
long chain called a polypeptide
 Polypeptides are folded depending on
their function and begin their job
Where are amino acids found in a
cell?

 Floating in the cytoplasm, attached

to tRNA molecules
What is an anticodon & where is it
found on tRNA?

 Complementary to mRNA codon

 At the bottom
What are the long chains of amino
acids called?

 Polypeptide chains
Fill in the chart below with the anticodons/amino
acids that would be coded for by the mRNA
sequence provided:

 UAA CAA GGA CGA UCC (codons)

 AUU GUU CCU GCU AGG (anticodons)
 Stop, glutamine, glycine, arginine,
serine
 Remember, the CODONS code for
amino acids, not anticodons
 Anticodons help match amino acids to
the codons
2nd question on #49
 UGA CCC GAU UUC AGC (codons)
 ACU GGG CUA AAG UCG (anticodons)
 Stop, glycine, aspartic acid, lysine,
serine