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BIOLOGY
X.DU
INTRODUCTION
• Synthetic biology
contributes to our world.
OUTLINE
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY VS BIOTECHNOLOGY
• Engineers design a new car by improving all sorts of individual components (engine,
chassis, wheels, bodywork) and combining them into better cars, and in synthetic biology
we combine knowledge of proteins, DNA, micro-organisms and cells into new
applications.' At first glance, synthetic biology has much in common with biotechnology.
'The difference is that the purpose of biotechnology is to improve existing life forms. In
synthetic biology we take this a step further: instead of looking for new applications for
existing organisms, we design new, synthetic life forms.'
• In week 1, we are going to talk about the basic concept of synthetic biology
CENTRAL DOGMA
• Biology is a fascinating science that is the source of the wonders of synthetic biology.
Fortunately, to get started, we only need to know a few key processes in biology, outlined
by the central dogma: DNA is transcribed to RNA, which is translated into protein.
PROKARYOTES VS. EUKARYOTES
• Many core processes in biology differ between prokaryotes (cells with no nucleus) and
eukaryotes (cells having a nucleus containing DNA). The following problems will help
you learn or recall which processes happen in which types of cells.
• In prokaryotes
– Transcription and translation occur together
DNA
TRANSCRIPTION
mRNA
Ribosome
TRANSLATION
Polypeptide
Figure 17.3a
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
• In eukaryotes
– RNA transcripts are modified before becoming true
mRNA
Nuclear
envelope
TRANSCRIPTION DNA
Pre-mRNA
RNA PROCESSING
mRNA
Ribosome
TRANSLATION
(b) Eukaryotic cell. The nucleus provides a separate
Polypeptide compartment for transcription. The original RNA
transcript, called pre-mRNA, is processed in various
ways before leaving the nucleus as mRNA.
Figure 17.3b
DNA Gene 2
molecule
Gene 1
Gene 3
DNA strand 3 5
(template) A C C A A A C C G A G T
TRANSCRIPTION
U G G U U U G G C U C A
mRNA 5 3
Codon
TRANSLATION
Figure 17.6
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
• Concept 17.2: Transcription is the DNA-
directed synthesis of RNA: a closer look
– Initiation 5
3
Transcription unit
3
5
DNA
Start point
– Termination 5
3
Template strand of
3
5
RNA
5 3
3 3 5
5
RNA
transcript
3 Termination. Eventually, the RNA
transcript is released, and the
polymerase detaches from the DNA.
5 3
3 5
5 3
Completed RNA
Figure 17.7 transcript
RNA
polymerase
T C C A A
A T
3 C T U
3 end
T
G
A U
G
G
A
C A EG C A C
5 A
T A
A G G T T
Direction of transcription
5 Template
(“downstream”)
strand of DNA
Newly made
RNA
TRANSLATION Ribosome
Polypeptide
Promoter
5 T A T A A AA 3
AT A T T T T
3 5
TATA box Start point Template
DNA strand
2 Several transcription
factors
Transcription
factors
5 3
3 5
3 Additional transcription
factors
RNA polymerase II
Transcription factors
5 3
3 5 5
RNA transcript
Figure 17.8 Transcription initiation complex
Figure 17.9
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Split Genes and RNA Splicing
• RNA splicing
– Removes introns and joins exons
Polypeptide
mRNA 5 Cap Poly-A tail
1 146
3 UTR 3 UTR
Figure 17.10
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
• Is carried out by spliceosomes in some cases
RNA transcript (pre-mRNA)
5
Exon 1 Intron Exon 2
Protein
1 Other proteins
snRNA
snRNPs
Spliceosome
2 5
Spliceosome
components
Cut-out
intron
3
mRNA
5
Figure 17.11 Exon 1 Exon 2
Domain 3
Domain 2
Domain 1
mRNA
Ribosome
TRANSLATION
Polypeptide
Amino
Polypeptide acids
tRNA with
amino acid
Ribosome attached
Trp
Ph e Gly
tRNA
C
C
GC G
A
Anticodon
A A A
U G G U U U G G C
5 Codons 3
mRNA
Figure 17.13
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
• Molecules of tRNA are not all identical
– Each carries a specific amino acid on one end
– Each has an anticodon on the other end
Hydrogen
bonds
A AG
3 5
Anticodon
Anticodon
(c) Symbol used
(b) Three-dimensional structure in this book
Figure 17.14b
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
• A specific enzyme called an aminoacyl-tRNA
synthetase
– Joins each amino acid to the correct tRNA
Amino acid Aminoacyl-tRNA
synthetase (enzyme)
P P P Adenosine
1 Active site binds the
amino acid and ATP.
ATP
Pyrophosphate P Pi
Pi
Pi
Phosphates
tRNA
3 Appropriate
tRNA covalently
Bonds to amino
Acid, displacing P Adenosine
AMP. AMP
4 Activated amino acid
is released by the enzyme.
Aminoacyl tRNA
(an “activated
Figure 17.15 amino acid”)
mRNA
Ribosome
TRANSLATION
Polypeptide
Exit tunnel
Growing
polypeptide
tRNA
molecules
Large
subunit
E
P A
Small
subunit
5
mRNA 3
mRNA
binding site Small
subunit
tRNA
mRNA 3
Codons
5
(c) Schematic model with mRNA and tRNA. A tRNA fits into a binding site when its anticodon
base-pairs with an mRNA codon. The P site holds the tRNA attached to the growing
polypeptide. The A site holds the tRNA carrying the next amino acid to be added to the
polypeptide chain. Discharged tRNA leaves via the E site.
Figure 17.16c
Initiator tRNA
GTP GDP
E A
mRNA
5 3 5 3
Start codon
E E
P A P A
5
3 3
3
5 5
Stop codon
(UAG, UAA, or UGA)
1 When a ribosome reaches a stop 2 The release factor hydrolyzes 3 The two ribosomal subunits
codon on mRNA, the A site of the the bond between the tRNA in and the other components of
ribosome accepts a protein called the P site and the last amino the assembly dissociate.
a release factor instead of tRNA. acid of the polypeptide chain.
The polypeptide is thus freed
from the ribosome.
Figure 17.19
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Polyribosomes
• A number of ribosomes can translate a single
mRNA molecule simultaneously
– Forming a polyribosome
Completed
Growing polypeptide
polypeptides
Incoming
ribosomal
subunits
Start of Polyribosom
e End of
mRNA mRNA
(5 end) (3 end)
(a) An mRNA molecule is generally translated simultaneously
by several ribosomes in clusters called polyribosomes.
Ribosomes
mRNA
0.1 µm
(b) This micrograph shows a large polyribosome in a prokaryotic
Figure 17.20a, b cell (TEM).
Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Completing and Targeting the Functional Protein
• Polypeptide chains
– Undergo modifications after the translation
process
• Firstly, bacteria are relatively simple organisms that are easy and inexpensive to culture in
the laboratory. This allows researchers to manipulate their genetic material and study how
changes to their DNA affect their behavior and function.
• Secondly, bacteria have a rapid growth rate, which means that experiments can be
conducted quickly and results obtained relatively quickly.
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY CHOSE BACTERIA.
• Thirdly, bacteria have a wide range of metabolic pathways and are capable of producing a
wide range of useful chemicals and proteins, which makes them attractive sources for
bioengineering.
• Additionally, because bacteria can be easily engineered and controlled, they are good
candidates for creating new technologies, such as gene editing tools and biosensors.
HOW TO STUDY BACTERIA
HOW TO STUDY BACTERIA
• A promoter is a region of DNA that is one element involved in regulating the expression
of a gene. This can happen in a few ways. For example, the promoter region might
bind RNA polymerase (RNAP, transcribes RNA molecules from DNA instructions)
really well, in which case we say it has a high affinity to RNAP and is a strong promoter.
On the other hand, it might bind RNAP poorly, have low affinity and be a weak promoter.
The promoter might also bind other proteins which can recruit RNAP, occlude it from
binding, or recruit other proteins that do this. These proteins are in general
called transcription factors and can enhance or repress gene expression.
INDUCER
Active
Protein repressor
lac operon
RNA
polymerase
3
mRNA
mRNA
5 5
Allolactose Inactive
(inducer) repressor
• TetR and LacI are repressors from bacteria. They work by binding sequences of DNA
called operator sites at promoters, sterically blocking RNA polymerase from initiating
transcription. Fortunately, this mechanism also works in eukaryotes: if we insert an
operator sequence at a promoter, we can inhibit (repress) transcription by adding a
sufficient amount of repressor. The presence of a repressor makes transcription less likely.
MIRNA
Dicer
miRNA miRNA-
5 3 protein
(a) Primary miRNAtranscript
complex
• IRES: internal ribosome entry site. IRESs are a unique class of sequences that allow 5'
cap-independent initiation of translation. Typically, eukaryotic translation always starts at
the 5' cap (a modified G nucleotide), and is called "cap-dependent initiation". Some
viruses have developed sequences that when transcribed to RNA will fold in structures
resembling various initiation factors or mimic conformations required for initiation; there
are other ways IRESs function as well, e.g. by base-pairing with the RNA components of
the ribosome.
FP(FLUORESCENT PROTEINS)