Gene Expression

Learning Objectives
How DNA is packed in the chromosome? DNA replication Transcription of genetic information from DNA to the messenger RNA Transfer RNAs Ribosomes Translation

An Electron Micrograph of a T2 Bacteriophage and its DNA

The phage has been osmotically lysed in distilled water so that its DNA has spilled out.
Fig. 23-0

The DNA is rendered visible in the electron microscope by first coating it with denaturated cytochrome c to fatten it to ~ 200 and then shadowing the resulting preparation with platinum

Chromosome
Fig. 23-43

Genome is one haploid (single) set of chromosomes with the genes they contain. It includes all the genetic material of an organism.

Human genome consists of 3109 base pairs in 23 chromosomes. The total contour length of DNA in a single cell is 1 m. Human chromosomes are 1.3 - 10 m long in most condensed state. Each chromosome contains proteins and a single DNA molecule.

Chromosome
DNA winds around histones to form nucleosomes that condense in 30-nmdiameter filaments. In the condensed chromosome, the filaments are attached to a protein scaffold.

Fig. 23-50

The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

Fig. 3-13

DNA Replication
When cell divides to produce two daughter cells, DNA molecules are replicated. Each strand of the parental DNA acts as a template for the syntheses of a complementary daughter strand. The resulting doublestrained molecules are identical. Multitude of enzymes are involved in the replication process to insure its fidelity and efficiency

Fig. 3-11

Transcription
One DNA molecule contains many genes. One gene encodes one polypeptide chain. Genetic information is transcribed from DNA to the messenger RNA (mRNA). During mRNA synthesis, free ribonucleotides pair with the complementary bases in one DNA strand.

Fig. 3-12

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs)

tRNAs transfer amino acids in the cytoplasm to ribosomes for protein synthesis. tRNA has a cloverleaf form with threenucleotide anticodon at the bottom loop. Aminoacyl-tRNA is a covalent complex of tRNA with an amino acid. The type of the amino acid is determined by the anticodon sequence. Each codon of mRNA pairs with anticodon in the corresponding tRNA. xyz
Anticodon 5 3

Amino acid residue attached

t-RNA
Fig. 23-26

Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Sequences

Codones Anticodones

Fig. 3-12

Ribosomes
Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm.
Fig. 26-15

The ribosome consists of several large RNA molecules and dozens of proteins.

Translation
Figure 3-14 The ribosome binds mRNA in such a way that its codons can be matched with high fidelity by tRNA anticodones.

Translation
The ribosome includes binding sites for: - the incoming aminoacyl-tRNA - the tRNA to which the growing peptide chain is attached (the peptidyl-tRNA) - the tRNA that has given up its aminoacyl group

Translation

The ribosome catalyzes peptide bond formation between the peptidyl-tRNA and the incoming aminoacyl-tRNA

Peptide Bond Formation

Fig. 26-23