Gene expression

DNA  RNA  Protein

DNA
Replication
Initiation
DNA
Elongation
Transcription Processing
Degradation
Export
RNA
Translation Initiation
Degradation Elongation
Protein Processing
Targeting
 Chapter 6
• Transcription
• Sections
• From DNA to RNA
– The start of the chapter to the end of “Mature eucaryotic
mRNAs are selectively exported from the nucleus”
 RNA structure

RNA is single stranded polymer of C, G, A, U

Can have secondary structure but typically not a

double helix (Fig. 6-6)
 RNA structure

many types of RNA made:

•mRNA: encodes proteins,

•snRNA: RNA processing

•snoRNA: rRNA processing

•tRNA: translation

•rRNA: translation
 Transcription initiation

DNA acts as a template for RNA synthesis (Fig 6-

9)
 Transcription initiation

DNA acts as a template for RNA synthesis

Synthesis by RNA polymerase -RNA Pol

RNA Pol I makes tRNA and rRNA

RNA Poly II makes mRNA in nucleus

 Control of transcription

Transcription initiation by RNA Pol II requires

general transcription factors (Fig 6-16)
 Control of transcription
(Fig. 6-16)

Transcription start site usually a TATA box (not

always)

TBP (TATA-binding protein) binds, changing DNA

structure (Fig 6-18).

Recruits transcription factor II proteins (TFIIA,

B, …) then RNA Pol II

Collectively the transcription initiation complex

 Control of transcription

Since DNA is wrapped around histones, how does

RNA Pol gain access to the promoter?

How does RNA Pol know where to bind?

 Control of transcription
(Fig. 6-19)

Transcription initiation also requires:

•activators
•mediators (or co-activators),
•chromatin-remodeling proteins

Activators increase the likelihood of successful

transcription initiation

Mediators allow activators to communicate with

RNA Pol II
 Transcription factors

• DNA-binding proteins associate with

specific regions on DNA (elements)

• Elements may be as small as 6 nucleotides

• Subtle differences in DNA 3 dimensional

structure alter the ability of proteins to
bind
 RNA processing

Newly synthesized transcripts (mRNA) are processed

(Fig. 6-21):

•Splice out intervening sequences (=introns) leaving

expressed sequences (exons)

•“Cap” 5’ end of RNA

•Poly-adenylate 3’ end (Poly A+ tail)

 RNA processing

Introns are removed in spliceosomes ( a complex

of proteins and snRNA)

cut and paste RNA at specific sites (Fig 6-26, 6-

29)

Requires ATP
 Transcript processing

3’ end is also processed

cut downstream from poly-adenylation site (AU-
rich region)

Poly A polymerase adds 100’s of ATPs

Length of poly A+ tail influences half-life

(degradation rate)
 Transcript export

Proteins associated with mRNA mark it for export

Only mature mRNA is exported from nucleus

Exit via nuclear pore complexes