4. Chapter 10: How Proteins are
Made
Transcription and Translation
By: Xenia Hofherr, Erin Harty,
Miranda McLaughlin, and
John David Stocking
5. Vocabulary:
Riboneucleic Acid (RNA): a ribonucleic acid, a natural polymer that is
present in all living cells and that plays a role in protein synthesis.
Uracil: a nitrogen base within the RNA.
Gene Expression: the process by which proteins are made based on
the information encoded in DNA.
RNA Polymerase: an enzyme that adds and links complementary RNA
nucleotides during transcription.
Messenger RNA: a form of RNA that carries the instructions for
making a protein from a gene and delivers it to the site of translation.
Codons: a series of three-nucleotide sequences on the mRNA.
6. Vocabulary
Continued....
Transfer RNA: molecules are single strands or RNA that
temporarily carry a specific amino acid on one end.
Anticodon: a three- nucleotide sequence on a tRNA that is
complementary to an mRNA codon.
Ribosomal RNA: molecules are RNA molecules that are
part of the structure of ribosomes.
9. The 3 Steps in Transcription
• 1. RNA Polymerase binds to a gene
promoter (also called the “start” signal)
• 2. RNA Polymerase unwinds and
separates the 2 DNA strands
• 3. RNA Polymerase adds
complementary
nucleotides
10. Facts about Transcription:
What is the Final Product of
Transcription?
mRNA
Where does Transcription take
place?
Nucleus
11. Codons
• mRNA strands always:
• Start with a “start” codon: AUG
• End with a “stop” codon: UAA, UAG, or
UGA
• AUG: “Start” Methionine
• CCU: Proline
• AGA: Arginine
• UAG: STOP
12. Transcription
mRNA: form of RNA that carries instructions for making
protein.
RNA instructions are written as a series of 3 nucleotides called
codons.
Each codon codes for an amino acid
EXAMPLE:
DNA: A-T-G-C-C-T-A-G-A-T-A-G
Amino Acid: TAC GGA TCT ATC
mRNA: AUG CCU AGA UAG
13. The Difference Bet ween
DNA and RNA:
• 1. RNA consists of a single strand of
nucleotides instead of two strands
• 2. RNA contains a 5-carbon ribose sugar
rather than a deoxyribose.
• 3. RNA has the nitrogen base called uracil
instead of thymine.
14. Translation
• Translation: cell uses 2 different types of
RNA to read the instructions of the RNA
molecule and put together the amino acids
that make up the protein.
• Takes place in the cytoplasm
• On which cell part do you think translation
takes place? Ribosome
15. 3 Steps in Translation
• 1. tRNA molecules attach to
mRNA
molecules across the cytoplasm
• 2. They bring with them an amino
acid
• 3. Once they hit the “stop” codon
on the
mRNA, the strand of amino acids
detaches and forms a protein.
16. Translation
tRNA: a single strand of DNA
thattemporarily carries a specific amino
acid on one end and has an anticodon at
the other end.
• Anticodon: 3 nucleotide sequence on the
tRNA complementary to the codon on the
mRNA.
17. What is the Final Product of
Translation?
An Amino Acid Chain
18. Facts:
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
What does RNA stand for?
Ribose Nucleic Acid
What is the structure of a tRNA molecule?
a Single Strand of DNA
What does mRNA stand for?
Messenger Ribonucleic Acid
What is the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology?
DNA>RNA>Protein
