biology: protein synthesis

rna review

ribonucleic acid, single stranded, different sugar than dna (ribose), uracil base instead of thymine

three types of dna

as follows

mRNA (messenger)

- temporary copy of a gene that encodes a protein (carries the genetic message from DNA)
- made through transcription
- provides the pattern that determines the order of amino acids of a protein strand

rRNA (ribosomal)

- along with proteins makes up the ribosomes
- 80% of the rna in a cell

tRNA (transfer)

- amino acids are attached to it and are linked together during the process of translation

2 major processes

as follows

transcription

- making mRNA from the genetic code of DNA
- pieces of DNA called introns that do not code for proteins are removed leaving the coding segments called exons 809

3 steps of transcription

1. rna polymerase unzips the DNA double helix (initation)
2. rna nucleotides are formed from the nucleotides in the dna template strand (elongation)
3. the mRNA that is formed leaves the nucleus (termination)

translation

- the synthesis of proteins using the codons of mRNA matched with the anticodons of tRNA
- determines the amino acid sequence in a protein
- 64 different three base codons "code" for 20 amino acids (carried by tRNA)
- there are also start (1) and stop (3)

3 steps in translation

1. initiation - the ribosome attaches at a specific site of the mRNA (the start codon aug)
2. elongation - peptide bonds join the amino acids together in sequence, this is done by matching the tRNA anticodons with the mRNA codons, the tRNA molecules enter

distinguish between the roles of transcription and translation

transcription produces mRNA while translation provides the synthesis of protein based on the information contained in mRNA

what is the genetic code?

the sequence of bases in DNA or RNA that determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein

what is transcription? where does it take place in prokaryotes?... in eukaryotes?

transcription is the synthesis of mRNA from DNA, it takes place in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes and in the nucleus of eukaryotes

what does rna polymerase do?

rna polymerase joins rna nucleotides to make rna molecules

compare the roles of introns and exons in mRNA production.

introns are noncoding pieces of dna that are spliced out when mRNA is processed. exons are the coding segments of DNA that are spliced together to form funtional mRNA when introns are removed.

distinguish the functions of mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA

mRNA carries the message coded in DNA into the cytosol. tRNA brings the appropriate amino acids to mRNA during protein synthesis in the cytosol. rRNA makes up 80% of ribosomes.

describe the steps involved in adding amino acids to the polypeptide chain on a ribosome.

- a tRNA anticodon binds to the mRNA codon in the A site a ribosome
- the polypeptide chain attached to the tRNA in the P site is attached to the incoming amino acid with a peptide bond
- the ribosome moves one codon along the mRNA, releasing the tRNA tha

why is accurate initiation of protein synthesis important?

- accurate initiation of protein synthesis is important to avoid mistakes in the amino acid sequence

what part do anticodons and codons play in translation?

codons of mRNA match to the anticodons of tRNA

the DNA code for an amino acid consists of consists of __ nitrogen bases taken from __ possible bases

3/4

true or false - neither dna or rna molecules are chains of nucleotides

false, both

dna in the nucleus controls the activities in the rest of the cell by serving as a template for ___

RNA

the ___ of the cell are sites for synthesis of proteins

ribosomes

proteins are synthesized from less complex organic molecules known as

amino acids

true or false - dna controls protein synthesis by encoding amino acid sequence

true

true or false - genes act by directing the synthesis of lipids

false, proteins

dna and rna are both ___ acids

nucleic

true or false - the correct sequence for a gene transcribed into a RNA molecule is a. attachment of rna polymerase to dna; b. initiation of synthesis; c. elongation of dna; d. termination of synthesis and release of the transcript

true

the enzyme that initiates the first stage of transcription of is rna __

polymerase

the function of tRNA molecules is to transport ___ cytoplasm to mRNA

amino acids

true or false - the production of proteins is directed by the DNA because it is the template for mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA

true

translation takes place on the ___ of the cell

ribsomes

true or false - the following series of words is arranged according to increasing size of structures: nucleus, chromosomes, DNA, nucleotide

false, the opposite

true or false - the specific protein produced in a cell is directly related to the nucleotide sequence in the DNA molecule

true

true or false - transcription provides for the synthesis of proteins while translation produces mRNA

false, translation then transcription

true or false - introns are noncoding pieces of DNA that are spliced out when mRNA is processed while exons are the coding segments of DNA that are spliced together to form functional mRNA

true

what is the anticodon sequence of UUA?

AAU

what is the mRNA sequence that is the complement of the following coded sequence of DNA? TTT AAA TTT CGC

AAA UUU AAA GCG

the presence of which nitrogen base indicates the molecule in RNA?

uracil

the association between the ribosome and mRNA occurs in the __

cytoplasm

the function of transfer RNA molecules is to

transport amino acids to mRNA

this molecule carries a specific code from the nucleus to the ribosomes

mRNA

the genetic code of one amino acid molecule consists of

three nucleotides

RNA polymerase is considered an

enzyme

if the DNA template strand has a sequence of T-A-G-C-C-T-A, then the corresponding RNA is

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

the three base sequenc in the pink molecule represent a

codon

anticodons that match up to codons are located on which molecule?

tRNA

the molecule that carries the genetic code from DNA is called

mRNA

the pieces of DNA that do not code for proteins that are removed are called

introns

both transcription and the translation include

all of the above - initiation, termination, elongation