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8 The Molecular Genetics of Gene Expression. Fig. 8.6c. Transcription Elongation. Transcription Initiation. Promoter = nucleotide sequence 20-200 bp long — is the initial binding site of RNA polymerase and transcription initiation factors. Fig. 8.8. Transcription Termination. Fig. 8.9.
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8 The Molecular Genetics of Gene Expression
Fig. 8.6c Transcription Elongation
Transcription Initiation • Promoter = nucleotide sequence 20-200 bp long—is the initial binding site of RNA polymerase and transcription initiation factors Fig. 8.8
Transcription Termination Fig. 8.9
What’s different about transcription in eukaryotes? • Multiple RNA polymerases • 5’ capping • Splicing, 1 gene/transcript • PolyA tail
Multiple RNA Polymerases • RNA polymerases are large, multisubunit complexes whose active form is called the RNA polymerase holoenzyme • Bacterial cells have only one RNA polymerase holoenzyme, which contains six polypeptide chains • Eukaryotes have several types of RNA polymerase • RNA polymerase I transcribes ribosomal RNA. • RNA polymerase II - all protein-coding genes as well as the genes for small nuclear RNAs • RNA polymerase III - tRNA genes and the 5S component of rRNA
5’ Cap Following initiation a 7- methylguanosine is added to the 5’-end of the primary transcript = cap
Splicing • RNA splicing occurs in nuclear particles known as spliceosomes • The specificity of splicing comes from the five small snRNP—RNAs denoted U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6, which contain sequences complementary to the splice junctions
Translation • The translation system consists of five major components: • Messenger RNA: mRNA is needed to provide the coding sequence of bases that determines the amino acid sequence in the resulting polypeptide chain • Ribosomes are particles on which protein synthesis takes place • Transfer RNA: tRNA is a small adaptor molecule that translates codons into amino acid • Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases: set of molecules catalyzes the attachment of a particular amino acid to its corresponding tRNA molecule • Initiation, elongation, and termination factors
Ribosomes tRNA 2 dimensional 3 dimensional
Translation Elongation 1) 2) 3)
Translation Initiation 1.) Small subunit binds to a ribosome binding site 2.) methionine charged tRNA binds to the P-site on the ribosome 3.) the large subunit tops it off…. This brings you to the first step of elongation
Translation • The mRNA is translated in the 5’-to-3’ direction. The polypeptide is synthesized from the amino end toward the carboxyl end • Most polypeptide chains fold correctly as they exit the ribosome: they pass through a tunnel in the large ribosomal subunit that is long enough to include about 35 amino acids • Emerging from the tunnel, protein enters into a sort of cradle formed by a protein associated with the ribosome: it provides a space where the polypeptide is able to undergo its folding process. • The proper folding of more complex polypeptides is aided by proteins called chaperones and chaperonins
Translation • The mRNA in bacteria is often polycistronic (encodes serveral genes), each protein coding region is preceded by its own ribosome-binding site and AUG initiation codon • The genes contained in a polycistronic mRNA often encode the different proteins of a metabolic pathway.
What’s different about translation in eukaryotes? • Initiation does not occur at a Shine Delgarno sequence. The ribosome assembles at the 5’ cap and translocates to the initiation codon
Genetic Code • The genetic code is the list of all codons and the amino acids that they encode • Main features of the genetic code were proved in genetic experiments carried out by F.Crick and collaborators: • Translation starts from a fixed point • There is a single reading frame maintained throughout the process of translation • Each codon consists of three nucleotides • Code is nonoverlapping • Code is degenerate: each amino acid is specified by more than one codon
Genetic Code • Most of the codons were determined from in vitropolypeptide synthesis • Genetic code is universal = the same triplet codons specify the same amino acids in all species • Mutations occur when changes in codons alter amino acids in proteins