NUCLEIC ACIDS

Topic Outline:
History of Nucleic Acids

Structure and Function

Types of Nucleic Acids

1. DNA 2. RNA Central Dogma of Life

Friedrich Miescher in 1869

isolated what he called nuclein from the nuclei of pus cells

Richard Altmann in 1889

Nuclein was shown to have acidic properties, hence it became called nucleic acid

1920s
the tetranucleotide hypothesis was introduced

The Tetranucleotide hypothesis

Up to 1940 researchers were convinced that hydrolysis of nucleic acids yielded the four bases in equal amounts. Nucleic acid was postulated to contain one of each of the four nucleotides, the tetranucleotide hypothesis. Takahashi (1932) proposed a structure of nucleotide bases connected by phosphodiester linkages.

The Tetranucleotide hypothesis

adenine phosphate uracil

pentose phosphate pentose cytosine phosphate

pentose
phosphate

pentose guanine

Astbury and Bell in 1938

First X-ray diffraction pattern of DNA is

published. The pattern indicates a helical structure, indicated periodicity.

X-ray diffraction of DNA

Wilkins & Franklin (1952): X-ray crystallography

Avery, MacLeod, and Mc Carty in 1944

demonstrate DNA could transform

cells. Supporters of the tetranucleotide hypothesis did not believe nucleic acid was variable enough to be a molecule of heredity and store genetic information.

DNA is Genetic Material

Erwin Chargaff in late 1940s

used paper chromatography for

separation of DNA hydrolysates. Amount of adenine is equal to amount of thymine and amount of guanine is equal to amount of cytosine.

Hershey and Chase in 1952

confirm DNA is a molecule of heredity.

The Hershey-Chase Experiment

The Hershey-Chase Experiment

Watson and Crick in 1953

determine the structure of DNA

Watson & Crick Base pairing

Francis Crick in 1958

proposes the central dogma of molecular biology .

Kornberg purifies DNA polymerase I

1969
Entire genetic code determined

Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids are very long, thread-like polymers, made up of a linear array of monomers called nucleotides. Nucleic acids vary in size in nature tRNA molecules contain as few as 80 nucleotides Eukaryotic chromosomes contain as many as 100,000,000 nucleotides.

Two types of nucleic acid are found

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

DNA and RNA

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid nucleic acid that stores genetic information found in the nucleus of a mammalian cell. RNA ribonucleic acid 3 types of RNA in a cell Ribosomal RNAs (rRNA) are components of ribosomes Messenger RNAs (mRNA) carry genetic information Transfer RNAs (tRNA) are adapter molecules in translation

The distribution of nucleic acids in the eukaryotic cell

DNA is found in the nucleus
with small amounts in mitochondria and chloroplasts

RNA is found throughout the cell

The nucleus contains the cells DNA (genome)

Nucleus

RNA is synthesized in the nucleus and exported to the cytoplasm

Nucleus
Cytoplasm

DNA as genetic material: The circumstantial evidence

1.
2.

3.

4.

Present in all cells and virtually restricted to the nucleus The amount of DNA in somatic cells (body cells) of any given species is constant (like the number of chromosomes) The DNA content of gametes (sex cells) is half that of somatic cells. In cases of polyploidy (multiple sets of chromosomes) the DNA content increases by a proportional factor The mutagenic effect of UV light peaks at 253.7nm. The peak for the absorption of UV light by DNA

NUCLEIC ACID STRUCTURE

Nucleic acids are polynucleotides Their building blocks are nucleotides

NUCLEOTIDE STRUCTURE
PHOSPATE
SUGAR Ribose or Deoxyribose

BASE
PURINES
Adenine (A) Guanine(G)

PYRIMIDINES Cytocine (C) Thymine (T) Uracil (U)

NUCLEOTIDE

Nucleotide Structure
All nucleotides contain three components: 1. A nitrogen heterocyclic base 2. A pentose sugar 3. A phosphate residue

Ribose is a pentose
C5 O C1

C4

C3

C2

Spot the difference

RIBOSE DEOXYRIBOSE

CH2OH

OH

CH2OH

OH

C H

C H

H
C OH

H C OH

H
C OH

H C H

Chemical Structure of DNA vs RNA

Ribonucleotides have a 2-OH Deoxyribonucleotides have a 2-H

THE SUGAR-PHOSPHATE BACKBONE

The nucleotides are all orientated in the same direction The phosphate group joins the 3rd Carbon of one sugar to the 5th Carbon of the next in line.

P G

ADDING IN THE BASES

P C

The bases are attached to the 1st Carbon Their order is important It determines the

P C

P A P T

genetic information of the molecule

Hydrogen bonds

DNA IS MADE OF TWO STRANDS OF POLYNUCLEOTIDE

G
P C P C

C P G P G P

P
A P T P T A P T P

A
P

DNA IS MADE OF TWO STRANDS OF POLYNUCLEOTIDE

The sister strands of the DNA molecule run in opposite

directions (antiparallel) They are joined by the bases Each base is paired with a specific partner: A is always paired with T G is always paired with C Purine with Pyrimidine The sister strands are complementary but not identical The bases are joined by hydrogen bonds, individually weak but collectively strong

There are 10 base pairs per turn

Purines & Pyrimidines Structure of Nucleotide Bases

5 End

Nucleotides are linked by phosphodiest er bonds

3 End

CENTRAL DOGMA OF LIFE

From DNA to Protein

DNA to Protein
DNA acts as a manager in the process of making proteins
DNA is the template or starting sequence

that is copied into RNA that is then used to make the protein

Central Dogma

One gene one protein

Central Dogma
This is the same for bacteria to humans DNA is the genetic instruction or gene DNA RNA is called Transcription
RNA chain is called a transcript

RNA Protein is called Translation

Expression of Genes

Some genes are transcribed in large quantities because we need large amount of this protein
Some genes are transcribed in small quantities because we need

only a small amount of this protein

Nucleotides as Language
We must start to think of the nucleotides A, G, C and T as part of a special language the language of genes that we will see translated

to the language of amino acids in proteins

Genes as Information Transfer

A gene is the sequence of nucleotides within

a portion of DNA that codes for a peptide or a functional RNA Sum of all genes = genome

STEP 1 DNA REPLICATION

 Semiconservative

DNA Replication

Daughter DNA is a double helix with 1 parent strand and 1 new

strand Found that 1 strand serves as the template for new strand

DNA Template

Each strand of the parent DNA is used as a template

to make the new daughter strand DNA replication makes 2 new complete double helices each with 1 old and 1 new strand

Replication Origin
Site where replication

begins
1 in E. coli 1,000s in human

Strands are separated to

allow replication machinery contact with the DNA

Many A-T base pairs because

easier to break 2 H-bonds that 3 H-bonds

Note anti-parallel chains

Replication Fork

Bidirectional movement of the DNA replication machinery

THE REPLICATION FACTORY

DNA replication is an intricate process requiring the concerted action of many different proteins.
The replication proteins are clustered

together in particular locations in the cell and may therefore be regarded as a small Replication Factory that manufactures DNA copies.

THE REPLICATION FACTORY

The DNA to be copied is fed through the factory, much as a reel of film is fed through a movie projector.
The incoming DNA double helix is split into two single strands and each original single strand

becomes half of a new DNA double helix. Because each resulting DNA double helix retains one strand of the original DNA, DNA replication is said to be semi-conservative.

DNA REPLICATION PROTEINS

DNA replication requires a variety of proteins.
Each protein performs a specific function in

the production of the new DNA strands.

Helicase, made of six proteins arranged in a

ring shape, unwinds the DNA double helix into two individual strands.

 Single-strand binding proteins, or SSBs, are

tetramers that coat the single-stranded DNA.

This prevents the DNA strands from reannealing

to form double-stranded DNA.

Primase is an RNA polymerase that synthesizes

the short RNA primers needed to start the strand replication process.

 DNA polymerase is a hand-shaped enzyme that strings

nucleotides together to form a DNA strand.

The sliding clamp is an accessory protein that helps hold the

DNA polymerase onto the DNA strand during replication.

RNAse H removes the RNA primers that previously began

the DNA strand synthesis.

DNA ligase links short stretches of DNA together to create

one long continuous DNA strand.

Components of the DNA Replication

Polymerase & Proteins Coordinated

One polymerase complex apparently synthesizes leading/lagging strands simultaneously Even more complicated in eukaryotes

STRAND SEPARATION
To begin the process of DNA replication, the two double

helix strands are unwound and separated from each other by the helicase enzyme.
The point where the DNA is separated into single

strands, and where new DNA will be synthesized, is known as the replication fork.
Single-strand binding proteins, or SSBs, quickly coat the

newly exposed single strands. SSBs maintain the separated strands during DNA replication.

Replication Fork

Bidirectional movement of the DNA replication machinery

STRAND SEPARATION
Without the SSBs, the complementary DNA strands

could easily snap back together.

SSBs bind loosely to the DNA, and are displaced when

the polymerase enzymes begin synthesizing the new DNA strands.

NEW STRAND SYNTHESIS

Now that they are separated, the two single DNA strands can act as templates for the production of two new, complementary DNA

strands.
Remember that the double helix consists of

two antiparallel DNA strands with complementary 5 to 3 strands running in opposite directions.

NEW STRAND SYNTHESIS

Polymerase enzymes can synthesize nucleic acid strands only in the 5 to 3 direction, hooking the 5 phosphate group of an

incoming nucleotide onto the 3 hydroxyl group at the end of the growing nucleic acid chain.
Because the chain grows by extension off the

3 hydroxyl group, strand synthesis is said to proceed in a 5 to 3 direction.

NEW STRAND SYNTHESIS

Even when the strands are separated, however, DNA

polymerase cannot simply begin copying the DNA.

DNA polymerase can only extend a nucleic acid chain but

cannot start one from scratch.

To give the DNA polymerase a place to start, an RNA

polymerase called primase first copies a short stretch of the DNA strand.
This creates a complementary RNA segment, up to 60

nucleotides long that is called a primer.

NEW STRAND SYNTHESIS

Now DNA polymerase can copy the DNA strand.

The DNA polymerase starts at the 3 end of the RNA primer,

and, using the original DNA strand as a guide, begins to synthesize a new complementary DNA strand.
Two polymerase enzymes are required, one for each

parental DNA strand.

Due to the antiparallel nature of the DNA strands, however,

the polymerase enzymes on the two strands start to move in opposite directions.

NEW STRAND SYNTHESIS

One polymerase can remain on its DNA template and copy the DNA in one continuous strand. However, the other polymerase can only copy a short stretch of DNA before it runs into the primer

of the previously sequenced fragment.

It is therefore forced to repeatedly release the DNA

strand and slide further upstream to begin extension from another RNA primer.

NEW STRAND SYNTHESIS

The sliding clamp helps hold this DNA polymerase onto the

DNA as the DNA moves through the replication machinery. The sliding clamp makes the polymerase processive.
The continuously synthesized strand is known as the leading

strand, while the strand that is synthesized in short pieces is known as the lagging strand.
The short stretches of DNA that make up the lagging strand

are known as Okazaki fragments.

THE LAGGING STRAND

Before the lagging-strand DNA exits the replication factory, its RNA primers must be removed and the Okazaki fragments must be

joined together to create a continuous DNA strand.

The first step is the removal of the RNA primer.

THE LAGGING STRAND

RNAse H, which recognizes RNA-DNA hybrid helices,

degrades the RNA by hydrolyzing its phosphodiester bonds. Next, the sequence gap created by RNAse H is then filled in by DNA polymerase which extends the 3 end of the neighboring Okazaki fragment.
Finally, the Okazaki fragments are joined together by

DNA ligase that hooks together the 3 end of one fragment to the 5 phosphate group of the neighboring fragment in an ATP- or NAD+-dependent reaction.

REPLICATION IN ACTION
The process begins when the helicase enzyme unwinds the double helix to expose two single DNA strands and create two

replication forks. DNA replication takes place simultaneously at each fork. The mechanism of replication is identical at each fork.

How is DNA Synthesized?

Original theory
Begin adding nucleotides at origin
Add subsequent bases following pairing rules

Expect both strands to be synthesized simultaneously This is NOT how it is accomplished

How is DNA Synthesized?

Actually how DNA is synthesized
Simple addition of nucleotides along one strand, as

expected
Called the leading strand DNA polymerase reads 3 5 along the leading strand from the RNA primer Synthesis proceeds 5 3 with respect to the new daughter strand

Remember how the nucleotides are added!!!!!

5 3

Mistakes during Replication be maintained Base pairing rules must

Mistake = genome mutation, may have consequence

on daughter cells

Only correct pairings fit in the polymerase active site If wrong nucleotide is included
Polymerase uses its proofreading ability to cleave the

phosphodiester bond of improper nucleotide

Activity 3 5

And then adds correct nucleotide and proceeds down

the chain again in the 5 3 direction

Proofreading

DNA Repair
For the rare mutations occurring during

replication that isnt caught by DNA polymerase proofreading For mutations occurring with daily assault If no repair
In germ (sex) cells inherited diseases In somatic (regular) cells cancer

CONSEQUENCES OF GENETIC ERRORS :SOURCES OF GENETIC VARIATION

Mutation - any novel genetic change in the gene complement or genotype relative to the parental genotypes, beyond that achieved by genetic recombination during meiosis.
Mutations are changes in DNA structure, and

therefore changes in protein and phenotype.

CONSEQUENCES OF GENETIC ERRORS SOURCES OF GENETIC VARIATION

Mutations are rare! For every 100 million nucleotides added to a developing DNA strand only one mistake occurs on average.
Mutations are heritable; and may be beneficial, neutral, lethal, detrimental or

harmful to the organism.

Types of Mutation
1. Induced
viruses, UV radiation, some chemicals

(nitric acid changes cytosine to uracil) or mutagens (or carcinogens - benzene, cigarette smoke).

Types of Mutation
2. Spontaneous
Proofreading mistakes during DNA replication

(Base substitutions) - not necessarily a serious change.

Frame shift mutation (Addition or deletion of a

base) - serious change!

Types of Mutation
A 3 letter code or codon is analogous to three letter words in a

sentence.
Original sequence

THE CAT SAW THE DOG

Base or letter substitutions

THE BAT SAW THE DOG THE CAT SAW THE HOG

THE CAB SAW THE DOG

THE CAT SAW SHE DOG THE CAT SAD THE DOG THE CAT SAW THE DOC

Types of Mutation
Deletions

THE CAT SAW TED OG THE ATS AWT HED OG

Additions

THE CAT SAW THE ZDO G THE CMA TAS WTH EDO G

Types of Mutation
3. Jumping genes, transposable elements, or transposons. Discovered by Barbara McClintok (1956) while studying color variation in Indian corn. Won Nobel prize in 1983.

Types of Mutation
3. Jumping genes, transposable elements, or transposons. Patches of yellow sometimes occur among the purple grains of Indian corn. She explain this by assuming that the gene was being interrupted by a foreign sequence of DNA. These foreign bits of DNA could insert or remove themselves from a stretch of DNA causing the genes that they affected to be turned on or off. Such "jumping genes" could copy themselves and move about within the genome of the organism they occupied.

Types of Mutation
4. Chromosomal mutations (disruption in chromosomal morphology - inversions and translocations).
5. Homeotic genes master genes that regulate suites of other genes and may affect developmental pathways especially during embryogenesis. Mutations in these master genes can cause genetic anomalies. For example, a fruit fly that possesses legs where antennae should be, or a mosquito that has its mouth parts transformed into legs.

Effect of Mutation

Uncorrected Replication Errors

Mismatch repair
Enzyme complex recognizes mistake and excises newly-

synthesized strand and fills in the correct pairing

Mismatch Repair contd

Eukaryotes label

the daughter strand with nicks to recognize the new strand

Separates new from

old

Chemical Modifications

Thymine Dimers

Caused by exposure to UV light 2 adjacent thymine residues become covalently linked

Repair Mechanisms
Different enzymes recognize, excise different mistakes
DNA polymerase synthesizes proper strand DNA ligase joins new fragment with the polymer

STEP 2 - TRANSCRIPTION

Transcription
The region of the double-stranded DNA

corresponding to a specific gene is copied into an RNA molecule, called messenger RNA (mRNA). RNA differs from DNA
Ribose is the sugar rather than deoxyribose

ribonucleotides U instead of T; A, G and C the same Single stranded

Can fold into a variety of shapes that allows RNA to have structural and catalytic functions

RNA Differences

RNA Differences

Transcription
Similarities to DNA replication
Open and unwind a portion of the DNA 1 strand of the DNA acts as a template Complementary base-pairing with DNA

Differences
RNA strand does not stay paired with DNA DNA re-coils and RNA is single stranded RNA is shorter than DNA RNA is several 1000 bp or shorter whereas DNA is 250 million bp long

 Catalyzes the formation

of the phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotides (sugar to phosphate) Uncoils the DNA, adds the nucleotide one at a time in the 5 to 3 fashion Uses the energy trapped in the nucleotides themselves to form the new bonds

RNA Polymerase

Template to Transcripts

The RNA transcript is identical to the NON-

template strand with the exception of the Ts becoming Us

RNA Elongation
Reads template 3

to 5 Adds nucleotides 5 to 3 (5 phosphate to 3 hydroxyl) Synthesis is the same as the leading strand of DNA

Differences in DNA and RNA Polymerases

RNA polymerase adds ribonucleotides not deoxynucleotides RNA polymerase does not have the ability to proofread what they transcribe RNA polymerase can work without a primer RNA will have an error 1 in every 10,000 nucleotides (DNA is 1 in 100,000,000 nucleotides)

Types of RNA
messenger RNA (mRNA) codes for proteins ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms the core of the ribosomes, machinery for making proteins transfer RNA (tRNA) matches code for amino acid on mRNA and positions the right amino acid in place during protein synthesis

How does the process of transcription begin?

The DNA serves as the template for producing an RNA transcript or copy of information stored on the DNA molecule.
The DNA molecule must open up and allow

an enzyme called RNA polymerase read and connect together the sequence of nucleotides in the proper order.

STEP 3 TRANSLATION

RNA to Protein
Translation is the process of turning mRNA into protein Translate from one language (mRNA

nucleotides) to a second language (amino acids) Genetic code nucleotide sequence that is translated to amino acids of the protein

DNA Code

Nucleotides read 3 at a time meaning that there are 64 combinations for a codon (set of 3

nucleotides) Only 20 amino acids

More than 1 codon per AA degenerate code with the

exception of Met and Trp (least abundant AAs in proteins)

Reading Frames

Translation can occur in 1 of 3 possible reading frames, dependent on where decoding starts in the mRNA

Transfer RNA Molecules

Translation requires an adaptor molecule that recognizes the codon on

mRNA and at a distant site carries the appropriate amino acid Intra-strand base pairing allows for this characteristic shape Anticodon is opposite from where the amino acid is attached

Wobble Base Pairing

Due to degenerate code for amino acids some tRNA can recognize several codons because the 3rd

spot can wobble or be mismatched Allows for there only being 31 tRNA for the 61 codons

Attachment of AA to tRNA
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthase is the enzyme responsible for linking the amino acid to the tRNA
A specific enzyme for each amino acid and

not for the tRNA

2 Adaptors Translate Genetic Code to Protein

Ribosomes

Complex machinery that controls protein synthesis 2 subunits

1 large catalyzes the peptide

bond formation 1 small binds mRNA and tRNA

Contains protein and RNA

rRNA central to the catalytic

activity
Folded structure is highly conserved

Protein has less homology and

may not be as important

Ribosome Structures

May be free in cytoplasm or attached to the ER Subunits made in the nucleus in the nucleolus and transported to the cytoplasm

Ribosomal Subunits

1 large subunit catalyzes the formation of the peptide bond 1 small subunit matches the tRNA to the mRNA Moves along the mRNA adding amino acids to growing protein

chain

Ribosomal Movement
E-site

4 binding sites
mRNA binding site Peptidyl-tRNA binding site (P-site)
Holds tRNA attached to growing end of the peptide

Aminoacyl-tRNA binding site (A-site)

Holds the incoming AA

Exit site (E-site)

Summary