Learning Outcomes:

Describe how DNA and RNA encode for the amino acid
sequence in a polypeptide chain.
Describe the structure of DNA and RNA in terms of a
sugarphosphate backbone and attached bases.
Storyline EP2 (p 144 to 149) Activities EP2.7 and EP2.8.
Explain the role of hydrogen bonding in the pairing of
bases in DNA, and the replication of genetic information
by RNA.
Illustrate and explain the role of hydrogen bonds as
intermolecular forces, which help determine the sequence
of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
Chemical Ideas: Chapter 5.4 (p 102 to 108)

Cell structure
cytoplasm
~ gel of molecules

Rough endoplasmic
reticulum
~ protein synthesis

Nucleus
DNA ~ genetic material

Ribosomes
~ protein synthesis

DNA ~ genetic information and the blue print for protein

synthesis

Bases in DNA:
Thymine T

Cytosine C
Adenine

Guanine G

Hydrogen bonds
between
base pairs

Part of a DNA strand- a gene unzips and transcription of

the base pairs produces a strand of mRNA.

RNA ~ Ribonucleric acid in a cell

1 gene 1 polypeptide chain
Nucleus (DNA)

tRNA

collect amino acids in the

cells cytoplasm and carry
them to the ribosomes
where they will be built into
a polypeptide chain ~
translation

Transcription
DNA used as a
blue print to
make mRNA
mRNA carries the code
for protein synthesis
and goes to
ribosomes.

Bases carried on the DNA strands code for an

amino acid sequence that will form a protein.
Bases in DNA:

Bases in RNA:

Thymine T

Uracil

Cytosine C

Cytosine C

Adenine

Adenine

Guanine G

Guanine G

How bases pair to form mRNA:

Adenine

Uracil

Cytosine

Guanine

Thymine

Adenine

Guanine

Cytosine

Three bases ~ tripet base codes, or codons, are

used for each amino acid.
in this example it would
bind to GCC, the codon
for alanine

Anti-codon for binding to

a codon on mRNA:

mRNA from the nucleus

sugar phosphate molecule

base

Bases that make up the triplet base

codons are attached to sugar
phosphate molecules, which together
are called RNA

Chemical composition of Ribonucleric Acid

Ribose sugar molecules ~ C5H10O5

Phosphate groups H2PO4

One of 4 bases: A,U,G or C

A unit of RNA

OH
H2O

BASE
O
H2O
O
phosphate

Representations of the structure of RNA

How an ester bond is formed between the tRNA and

an alanine molecule:
an ester link

CH3

CH3

H2N - C - COOH

H2N - C - C = O

alanine
H
molecule

one tRNA

+ H2O

When a tRNA collects an amino acid it takes it to the

mRNA strand that has become attached to a
ribosome.

Protein synthesis: ribosome read codons on mRNA.

Ribosome moles along the mRNA chain

Amino acids bond into the

polypeptide chain

tRNA molecules bring

amino acids to the
mRNA in the
ribosome
H2N
COOH

tRNA leave the

ribosome when it
has delivered its
amino acid

The bases in RNA are planar and the bases fit

together so that groups are in just the right positions
for hydrogen bonds to form ~ molecular recognition.

2 hydrogen bonds between uracil and adenine

3 hydrogen bonds between cytocine and guanine

Read in Chemical Storylines:

EP2 Protein building pages 140 to 149

Make your own

summary notes/annotated diagrams
about how amino acids are converted into
polypeptide chains inside cells