Transcription

Initiation

- TATA binding protein chemically attracted to DNA sequence, TATA box (base sequence TATA
surrounded by long stretches of G and C).
- Then attract other transcription factors forming complex.
- RNA polymerase is attracted to the complex, binding at the front of the start of the gene
sequence.

Elongation

- Enzyme helicase unwinds the DNA double helix locally

- Free RNA nucleotides bond with exposed complementary bases on the DNA template
strand.
- RNA polymerase adds the RNA nucleotides in the sequence the DNA specifies, moving in a 3’
to 5’ direction

Termination

- Terminator sequence in the DNA indicates where the gene’s RNA-encoding region ends.
- When the sequence is reached, transcription termination occurs.

RNA Processing

- After mRNA is transcribed, a short sequence of modified nucleotides, called a cap, is added
to the 5’ end of the molecule.
- The cap consist of a backwardly inserted guanine (G), which attracts an enzyme that adds
methyl groups (CH3) to the G and one of two adjacent nucleotides.
- The methylated cap is a recognition site for protein synthesis.
- At the 3’ end, a special polymerase adds about 200 adenines (A), forming a “poly A tail”.
- Poly A tail is necessary for protein synthesis to begin, and may also stabilise the mRNA so
that it stays intact longer.
- Next, introns (short for intervening sequences) that were transcribed are removed by
spliceosome.
- The ends of the remaining molecule are spliced together before the mRNA is translated.
- Then enzymes check or proofread the remaining mRNA

Translation

Initiation

- Protein synthesis requires several participants; mRNA, tRNA, ATP, GTP, and protein factors.
- These pieces meet during translation initiation and being held together by chemical bonds.
- The mRNA leader sequence forms hydrogen bonds with a short sequence of rRNA in a small
ribosomal subunit.
- The first mRNA, AUG, attracts initiator tRNA that carries amino acid methionine (Met).
- The small subunit which mRNA bonded to it, and the initiator tRNA formed initiation
complex at the appropriate AUG codon of the mRNA.
Elongation

- Large ribosomal subunit bonds to the initiation complex.

- The codon adjacent to the initiation codon (AUG) then bonds to its complementary
anticodon, which is the part of a free tRNA that carries correspond amino acid.
- The two amino acids still attached to their tRNAs, align.
- The amino acids link by a type of chemical bond called a peptide bond, with the help of rRNA
that functions as a ribozyme.
- Then the first tRNA is released.
- Another amino acid carried by another free tRNA align next to the second amino acid.
- Peptide bond is formed
- Second tRNA is released.

Termination

- Elongation stops when stop codon (UGA, UAG, UAA) is reached, because no tRNA molecules
correspond to it.
- The last tRNA leaves the ribosome, the ribosomal subunits separate and are recycled.
- The new polypeptide is released.