Genetic Materials in Cells

Dr Joanna Ho
Email: joannaho@hku.hk

BMSN2202 for 2015-16_J Ho 1

Learning Outcomes

Describe structures of nucleic acids.

Describe the process of DNA replication.
Describe the process of gene expression and protein synthesis.
List and define the different types of mutation.

BMSN2202 for 2015-16_J Ho 2

Learning Outcomes

Describe structures of nucleic acids.

Describe the process of DNA replication.
Describe the process of gene expression and protein synthesis.
List and define the different types of mutation.

BMSN2202 for 2015-16_J Ho 3

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acid is a polymer

Formed by linking nucleotides
through phosphodiester bonds

Nucleotides
1. A nitrogen containing base
2. A pentose (sugar)
3. 1-3 phosphate groups

There are five different bases

A = adenine
G = guanine
C = cytosine
T = thymine
U = uracil

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Structure of bases

For your reference only!

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Phosphodiester bond

For your reference only!

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Characteristics of DNA
DNA is double-stranded aligned in anti-parallel fashion
Two strands held together by hydrogen bonds formed between the
bases
Complementary base pairing
A must pair up with T (2 hydrogen bonds)
G must par up with C (3 hydrogen bonds)
Forms helical structure
Sugar phosphate backbone on surface
Base-pair in the center
accounts for stability of DNA
Major grooves and minor grooves
For protein binding
Wraps around histone proteins
For condensation

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Characteristics of DNA

Complementary base pairing

A must pair up with T (2 hydrogen bonds)
G must par up with C (3 hydrogen bonds)

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Characteristics of DNA

Major grooves and minor grooves

For protein binding

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http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v2/n5/fig_tab/nrd1087_F1.html
Characteristics of RNA

1. Contains uracil instead of thymine

2. 3 types of RNA
a. Messenger RNA (mRNA)
b. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
c. Transfer RNA (tRNA)
3. Made from DNA through
transcription
4. All involved in protein
biosynthesis
5. Single-stranded (less stable than
DNA)
6. Forms secondary structure
a. Hairpin loops
b. Has 3D sturcture

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Learning Outcomes

Describe structures of nucleic acids.

Describe the process of DNA replication.
Describe the process of gene expression and protein synthesis.
List and define the different types of mutation.

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Replication: duplication of DNA

1. Occurs in nucleus during

cell division
a. Mitosis
b. Meiosis
2. DNA unwinds
3. Each strand serves as a
template
By complementary base
pairing,
Another new strand is added by
DNA polymerase
4. Semi-conservative DNA
replication

http://www.tokresource.org/tok_classes/biobiobio/biomenu/dna_replication/index.htm
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 DNA polymerase: 5 > 3

ligaze

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Learning Outcomes

Describe structures of nucleic acids.

Describe the process of DNA replication.
Describe the process of gene expression and protein synthesis.
List and define the different types of mutation.

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DNA is the code of life

What does DNA used for coding?

A
T
G
C
What does DNA code for and how?

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Transcription: transfer information (code) from
DNA to mRNA
1. Occurs in nucleus
2. A controlled process
e.g. controlled by hormones
3. DNA unwinds
4. One of the strand (coding
strand) is used as template
for RNA synthesis
- By complementary base pairing,
RNA is made by RNA polymerase
5. DNA rewinds at the other
side as transcription
continues

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How does DNA transfer its information to make
protein?

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The universal genetic
code
1. 64 codons
2. 20 amino acids
3. Most amino acids have
more than one codon
a. Codon degeneracy
b. Synonym
4. A common start codon
(AUG)
Serves as start signal for protein
synthesis
5. 3 stop codons serve to
signal the end of protein
synthesis.

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Translation: code on mRNA is read to make protein
1. Occurs in cytoplasm
2. Requires
a. mRNA (template)
b. tRNA (carry amino acids)
c. rRNA (part of ribosome)
d. Ribosome
Large subunit (P site, A site)
Small subunit

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Translation: code on mRNA is read to make protein

The 3 steps of translation: initiation, chain elongation and termination

1. Initiation: assembly of ribosom at the start site (AUG)

a. Small subunit and the initiator tRNA (Met-rRNAMet) bind first
b. Then the large subunit binds
c. Initiator rRNA occupies P site

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Translation: code on mRNA is read to make protein
2. Chain elongation
Three stage reaction cycle that add amino acids to a growing peptide
a. Binding of rRNA to A site
b. Formation of peptide bond
Amino acid/peptide on P site tRNA attaches to the amino acid on the A
site tRNA
c. P site tRNA leaves and the ribosome moves down 3 nucleotides

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Translation: code on mRNA is read to make protein

3. Termination
Occurs at stop site (3 stop codons UAA, UGA, UAG) as there is no
tRNA for these codons
a. A release factor binds to the empty A site
b. The polypeptide is released from P site tRNA
c. Ribosome dissembles

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Learning Outcomes

Describe structures of nucleic acids.

Describe the process of DNA replication.
Describe the process of gene expression and protein synthesis.
List and define the different types of mutation.

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Mutation = a change in DNA
Types of mutations
1. Substitution a base is replaced by another base
Effects:
a. No change in amino acid (silent mutation)
b. Change in amino acid
c. Change to a stop codon premature stop
small non-functional protein

2. Insertion extra base(s) inserted to the DNA

3. Deletion loss of base(s)
4. Frameshift mutation: results from insertion/deletion

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Vocabulary

Base pairing Semi conservative DNA

Genes replication
Nucleic acids Mutation
Genetic code
Transcription
Translation

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