DNA AND

PROTEIN
SYNTHESIS
DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID)
Nucleic acid that composes
chromosomes and carries genetic
information.
CHROMOSOME ORGANIZATION
1. A chromosome is an enormous strand of super coiled
DNA.
2. Sections of DNA on the chromosome that code for
proteins are called genes.
3. Noncoding sections of DNA are called “junk DNA”
(regulatory or unknown function)
BUILDING BLOCKS OF DNA
Composed of nucleotides
Nucleotides contain three parts:
1. 5-Carbon Sugar (deoxyribose)
2. Phosphate Group
3. Nitrogen Base (four types, adenine, guanine, thymine
and cytosine)
Adenine and Guanine are purines (composed of two
rings of nitrogen atoms)
Thymine and Cytosine are pyrimidines (composed of
one ring of nitrogen atoms)
STRUCTURE OF DNA
Consists of two strands of nucleotides that form a
twisted ladder (double helix)
Sugar and phosphate alternate along the sides of the
ladder (linked by strong covalent bonds)
Pairs of nitrogen bases form the rungs of the ladder
(linked by weak hydrogen bonds).
Specific base pairing arrangement (Chargaff’s Rule)
A-T : 2 hydrogen bonds
C-G : 3 hydrogen bonds
Nitrogen bases attach to the sugar portion of the side
(NOT the phosphate)
Strands run in opposite directions
FUNCTION OF DNA
DNA codes for proteins (structural proteins, enzymes,
and hormones)
information for building proteins is carried in the
sequence of nitrogen bases
proteins determine physical and metabolic traits and
regulate growth and development.
 DNA REPLICATION
Process in which DNA is
copied
 PURPOSE OF DNA
REPLICATION
Gives daughter cells
produced by cell division a
complete set of genetic
information identical to
the parent cell.
WHERE REPLICATION
OCCURS
Nucleus
 WHEN DURING THE
CELL CYCLE
REPLICATION OCCURS
Interphase (S)
HOW REPLICATION OCCURS
Helicase enzymes unzip the parent strand
by separating the nitrogen base pairs.
DNA polymerase pairs free DNA nucleotides
with the exposed bases on both strands
following the base pair rules.
each strand from the parent molecule serve
as a template
Hydrogen bonds reform spontaneously
sealing the two strands of each DNA
molecule together.
RESULTS OF REPLICATION
Two molecules of DNA that
are identical
Each is half old (strand from
parent) and half new (strand
synthesized by DNA
polymerase)
 RNA (RIBONUCLEIC ACID)
Nucleic acid involved in the synthesis of
proteins
RNA STRUCTURE
Composed of nucleotides, but differs from DNA in three
ways.

1. Single strand of nucleotides instead of double

stranded
2. Has uracil instead of thymine
3. Contains ribose instead of deoxyribose
 RNA FUNCTION
Three forms of RNA involved in protein
synthesis
1. mRNA (messenger): copies instructions in
DNA and carries these to the ribosome.
2. tRNA (transfer): carries amino acids to the
ribosome.
3. rRNA (ribosomal): composes the
ribosome.
1. RNA has a sugar ribose
DNA has a sugar deoxyribose

2. RNA contains uracil (U)

DNA has thymine (T)

3. RNA molecule is single-stranded

DNA is double-stranded
DNA RNA
DOUBLE STRANDED SINGLE STRANDED
DEOXYRIBOSE RIBOSE
NUCLEIC BASES NUCLEIC BASES
 THYMINE  URACIL
 GUANINE  GUANINE
 ADENINE  ADENINE
 CYTOSINE  CYTOSINE
Three types of RNA:
RNA
A. messenger RNA (mRNA)
B. transfer RNA (tRNA)
C. ribosome RNA (rRNA)

Remember: all produced in the nucleus!

Carries instructions from DNA to the rest of the
ribosome.
Tells the ribosome what kind of protein to make

Acts like an email from the principal to the

cafeteria lady.
 start
codon

mRNA A U G G G C U C C A U C G G C G C A U A A

codon 1 codon 2 codon 3 codon 4 codon 5 codon 6 codon 7

protein methionine glycine serine isoleucine glycine alanine stop

codon

Primary structure of a protein

aa1 aa2 aa3 aa4 aa5 aa6

peptide bonds
 QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

The Nucleus is the school office

The Nucleolus is the principal’s
office
The DNA is the principal
Ribosomes are the cafeteria ladies
mRNA is the email from the
principal to the cafeteria lady
Part of the structure of a ribosome
Helps in protein production

tRNA
A go-getter.
Gets the right parts to make the right protein
according to mRNA instructions
amino acid
attachment site methionine amino acid

U A C
anticodon
 Nuclear
DNA membrane

Transcription
Pre-mRNA

Eukaryotic RNA Processing

Cell mRNA

Ribosome

Translation

Protein
Introns are pulled out and exons
come together.
End product is a mature RNA
molecule that leaves the nucleus
to the cytoplasm.

Introns bad…… Exons good!

pre-RNA molecule

exon intron exon intron exon

intron intron

exon exon exon

splicesome splicesome

exon exon exon

Mature RNA molecule

The production (synthesis) of proteins.
proteins
3 phases:
phases
1. Transcription

2. RNA processing

3. Translation
DNA  RNA  Protein
 Nuclear
DNA membrane

Transcription
Pre-mRNA

Eukaryotic RNA Processing

Cell mRNA

Ribosome

Translation

Protein
 PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
Cells build proteins following
instructions coded in genes (DNA).

Consists of two parts, transcription

and translation
TRANSCRIPTION
DNA is copied into a complementary strand of mRNA.

WHY?
DNA cannot leave the nucleus. Proteins are made in
the cytoplasm. mRNA serves as a “messenger” and
carries the protein building instructions to the
ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
Enzyme opens DNA to expose a gene
nucleotides bond creating mRNA
introns (non-coding) areas are excised
out
extrons (coding areas) are spliced
together
Mature RNAs are released into
cytoplasm
RIBOSOMES
 LOCATION OF
TRANSCRIPTION
Nucleus
HOW TRANSCRIPTION OCCURS
1. RNA polymerase untwists and unzips a section of
DNA (usually a single gene) from a chromosome.
2. RNA polymerase pairs free RNA nucleotides to the
exposed bases of one of the DNA strands following
base pair rules.
Uracil replaces thymine
Only 1 strand of DNA serves as a template, the other
“hangs out”
3. Newly synthesized mRNA separates from template
DNA and DNA zips back up.
 RESULT OF TRANSCRIPTION
mRNA strand with instructions for building a
protein that leaves the nucleus and goes to
the cytoplasm.
TRANSCRIPTION EXAMPLE
Transcribe the following DNA Sequence in
mRNA

TAC CGG ATC CTA GGA TCA

AUG GCC UAG GAU CCU AGU
•The part of the DNA molecule (the gene) that the cell
wants the information from to make a protein unwinds to
expose the bases.
•Free mRNA nucleotides in the nucleus base pair with
one strand of the unwound DNA molecule.
•The mRNA copy is made with the help of RNA polymerase. This
enzyme joins up the mRNA nucleotides to make a mRNA strand.
•This mRNA strand is a complementary copy of the DNA (gene)
•The mRNA molecule leaves the nucleus via a nuclear pore into
the cytoplasm
mRNA
attaches to
small
ribosomal
subunit
PROTEINS
Structural and functional components of organisms.
Composed of amino acids
order of nucleotides in DNA determines order of
amino acids in a protein
One gene codes for one protein
GENETIC CODE
The “language” that translates the sequence of nitrogen
bases in DNA (mRNA) into the amino acids of a
protein.
Codon = three nucleotides on DNA or mRNA
One codon specifies one amino acid
Some codons are redundant (code for the same amino
acid)
The genetic code is universal to all organisms
DNA: TAC CTT GTG CAT GGG ATC
mRNA AUG GAA CAC GUA CCC UAG
A.A MET G.A HIS VAL PRO STOP
 IMPORTANT CODONS
AUG = start translation (Met)
UAA, UAG, UGA= stop translation
 TRANSLATION
Instructions in mRNA are used to
build a protein
Translation of the
Genetic Code -
Protein Synthesis
INITIATION- large subunit of ribosome
and messenger RNA bind and is
covered by small subunit of ribosome
ELONGATION - tRNA deliver amino
acids to ribosome. Their anti-codon
pair with the codons in mRNA. AA
linked by peptide bonds.
CHAIN TERMINATION - A stop codon
in RNA triggers detachment of the
chain and mRNA from ribosome.
 This is a molecule of messenger RNA.
It was made in the nucleus by
transcription from a DNA molecule.

codon
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU

mRNA molecule
A ribosome on the rough endoplasmic
reticulum attaches to the mRNA
molecule.

ribosome

AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Amino acid

tRNA molecule

A transfer RNA molecule arrives.

It brings an amino acid to the first three
bases (codon) on the mRNA.
anticodon The three unpaired bases (anticodon)
on the tRNA link up with the codon.
UAC
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Another tRNA molecule comes into
place, bringing a second amino acid.

Its anticodon links up with the second

codon on the mRNA.
CC
UAC G
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Peptide bond

A peptide bond forms between the

two amino acids.

U A CC C G
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 The first tRNA molecule releases its amino
acid and moves off into the cytoplasm.

A C
U
CCG
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 The ribosome moves along the mRNA to
the next codon.

CCG
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 Another tRNA molecule brings
the next amino acid into place.

AA
CCG U
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
 A peptide bond joins the second
and third amino acids to form a
polypeptide chain.

CCGCCG
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
The process continues.
The polypeptide chain gets longer.

This continues until a termination

(stop) codon is reached.

The polypeptide is then complete. AC

GUC G
AUGGGCUUAAAG CAGUGCACGUU
• First the mRNA attaches itself to a ribosome (to the
small subunit).
• Six bases of the mRNA are exposed.
• A complementary tRNA molecule with its attached
amino acid (methionine) base pairs via its anticodon
UAC with the AUG on the mRNA in the first position
P.
• Another tRNA base pairs with the other three mRNA
bases in the ribosome at position A.
• The enzyme peptidyl transferase forms a peptide
bond between the two amino acids.
• The first tRNA (without its amino acid) leaves the
ribosome.
The ribosome moves along the mRNA to the next
codon (three bases).
The second tRNA molecule moves into position P.
Another tRNA molecule pairs with the mRNA in
position A bringing its amino acid.
A growing polypeptide is formed in this way until a
stop codon is reached.
A stop codon on the mRNA is reached and this signals the ribosome
to leave the mRNA. A newly synthesised protein is now complete!
LOCATION OF TRANSLATION
ribosome (in the cytoplasm)
PROCESS OF TRANSLATION
1. mRNA binds to the ribosome.
2. Ribosome searches for start codon (AUG)
3. tRNA brings correct amino acid (methionine) to the
ribosome.
Each tRNA carries one type of amino acid.
The anticodon (three nitrogen bases on tRNA) must
complement codon for amino acid to be added to
protein chain
4. ribosome reads next codon
5. tRNA’s continue lining up amino acids according to
codons
6. peptide bonds link amino acids together
7. ribosome reaches STOP codon
Amino acid chain is released
RESULT OF TRANSLATION
A Protein