DNA

Information stored based on sequence of bases.

Bases:
A nitrogenous semi-cyclical structure.
Bases can be:
- A adenine
- T Thymine
- G guanine
- C Cytosine
A matches to T and C matches to G.
The backbone supporting these bases is comprised of a sugar phosphate. Together, this constitutes
a DNA nucleotide.

Organic Polymers in Genetics
Polymer Monomer Bonding Type
DNA Deoxyribonucleotide Phosphodiester bond
RNA Ribonucleotide Phosphodiester bond
Protein Amino Acids Peptide bond

The order of monomers in a polymer IS biological information. Changes in the sequence of
monomers in organic polymers -> genetic variation
Synthesis!
RNA
- Sugar phosphate backbone w/ phosphodiester bonds
- Base sequence carries information similarly to DNA
- BUT its single-stranded
- BUT it has a different sugar (ribose)
- BUT it has a U instead of T (uracil instead of thymine)
Transcription
- One DNA strand acts as a template that is lined up against a strand of RNA
- The information (base order) of the DNA strand is transcribed onto the RNA
- This makes it mRNA (messenger = m)
- Information stored on RNA is translated into a sequence of amino acids, leading to the
formation of a protein
This makes RNA expendable information carriers that rapidly degrade but are easily reconstructed.
Complementary base pairing is the method by which an RNA strand is transcribed upon with the
same information as that present on the DNA template.
- This process occurs in one direction, from 5 to 3
o Covalent bond is formed between the 3 end of the chain and the new NTP
o Requires energy
o Is catalysed by an enzyme (a protein)
o Enzyme = RNA polymerase
- In base pairing, the correct RNA nucleotides line up to match the complementary bases on
the template strand of DNA
- Transcription begins with the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to the specific DNA sequence
used in transcription. This DNA sequence is a PROMOTER.
The Sequence of Events
- Initiation
o RNA polymerase binds to promoter
- Elongation
o Addition of complementary base pairing rNTPs
- Termination
o Release of RNA polymerase and completed RNA molecule from DNA template

Translation: Protein Synthesis
Combination of 4 bases must specify 20 amino acids
3 bases per codon will give 20 possibilities
3 = 1 codon, specifies 1 amino acid

The Genetic Code
- Each amino acid specificed by a 3-nucleotide codon
- The genetic code is converted from base sequence to amino acid sequence by an adaptor
molecule
- The adapter is a small RNA molecule
- Called transfer RNA (tRNA)
- tRNA has an anti-codon end that pairs with the bases of the mRNA
- at the opposite end is an amino acid attachment site
Protein Synthesis, Catalyzed
- The catalyst used is enzyme ribosome
- Ribosome has two sub units
o Each subunit consists of proteins and ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Bonding Amino Acids: Peptide Bonds
- A condensation reaction occurs between a hydroxyl and hydrogen
- The bond is shared between a carbon and a nitrogen atom
- This is a peptide bond
- Proteins grow by amino acids being added to the C (carbon) terminus
Ribosome and its binding sites
- Amino Acyl (A) site
o Where next amino acid/tRNA waits for peptide bond formation
- Peptidyl (P) site
o Holds the already formed protein attached to a tRNA
Protein Synthesis: The Steps to Success
- Initiation
o Assembly of the ribosome on the mRNA at the start of the codon
- Elongation
o 3 step catalytic cycle involving addition of amino acids
- Termination
o Release of a complete protein at a stop codon