4. Decoding DNA:
DNA→ RNA → PROTEIN
Two separate processes involved:
Transcription – DNA used as the template
to make RNA
Translation – RNA serves as the template
for the sequence of amino
acids in a protein
5. The first step in expressing a gene
Occurs in the nucleus
DNA-directed RNA synthesis
An RNA copy of DNA is made.
This RNA serves as a messenger
between the nucleus and the
cytoplasm (mRNA).
6. How big part of human transcribed RNA
results in proteins?
Of all RNA, transcribed in higher
eukaryotes, 98% are never translated into
proteins
• Of those 98%, about 50-70% are introns
• 4% of total RNA is made of coding RNA
• The rest originate from non-protein genes,
including rRNA, tRNA and a vast number
of other non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs)
8. Similarities with replication
Involves general steps of initiation,
elongation and termination
5’→3’ polarity
Large, multicomplex initiation
complex
Adherence to Watson-Crick base
pairing rule
9. Differences between replication and
transcription
Ribonucleotides
U in place of T
Primer not involved
Very small portion of the genome
is transcribed
No proofreading function of
transcription
Doesn’t stop at one cycle
14. Prokaryotic RNAP
Single RNAP transcribing all 3 RNAs– mRNA,
rRNA & tRNA
5 subunits-- 2α, β, β’,ω--E
Sigma (σ)– 5th factor– helps in binding of RNAP
to specific promoter region of DNA template
E σ- Holoenzyme
RNAP- Metallozyme– Zn
β- binds to Mg++
15. Eukaryotic RNAP
3 RNAP
molecule location product
RNA polymerase I nucleolus 28S, 18S
5.8s rRNA
RNA polymerase II nucleus hnRNA,
mRNA,
some snRNAs
RNA polymerase III nucleus tRNA, 5S rRNA,
some snRNAs
16. Recognition of the promoter
region
Melting of DNA (Helicase +
Topoisomerase)
RNA Priming (Primase)
RNA Polymerization
Recognition of terminator
sequence
19. Initiation (Prokaryotic)
Promoter region recognised and sigma
factor binds to it
Proteins called transcription factors
bind to the promoter region of a gene
If the appropriate transcription factors
are present, RNA polymerase binds to
form an initiation complex
RNA polymerase melts the DNA at the
transcription start site
Polymerization of RNA begins
22. Prokaryotic promoters
TATA box/ Prinbow box– conserved
sequence on coding strand
-10 bp– 5’TATAAT’3 sequence
-35 bp– 5’TGTTGACA3’ sequence
RNAP binds here to form closed
complexes
AT rich regions– easily melted
23. Eukaryotic promoters
Each type of RNAP uses a different
promoter
Promoters used by RNAP I & II– same as
prokaryotic– upstream
Promoter used by RNAP III– downstream
Goldberg- Hogness box-- -25 to -30 bp
TATAAA sequence
CAAT box-- -70 to -80 bp
Eukaryotic initiation complex is very
complex
26. Elongation
RNAP binds at promoter site– Preinitiation
complex
↓
Conformational change in RNAP
↓
1st nucleotide (almost always a purine)
associates on β-subunit of the enzyme
↓
RNAP catalyses formation of a phosphodiester
bond in presence of appropriate nucleotide
↓
Elongation of RNA in 5’→3’ direction
27. Promoter clearance
In eukaryotes- a transition phase
Just before Elongation proper
After initial synthesis of 10-20
nucleotides have been
polymerized, RNAP physically
moves away from the promoter
down the transcription unit
30. Termination
Rho dependent requires a protein called Rho,
that binds to and slides along the RNA transcript.
The terminator sequence slows down the
elongation complex, Rho catches up and knocks it
off the DNA
Bacterial RNAP sometimes recognizes the DNA
encoded termination signals and dislodges
Rho independent termination
2nd GC-rich region that likes to form stem loop
structure
Stem loop forms, pulling mRNA from template
31. Rho – ATP-dependent RNA stimulated helicase that
disrupts the nascent RNA-DNA complex
Terminator
RNA
Pol.
5’
RNA
r
RNA
Pol.
5’
RNA
Help, rho
hit me!
r
RNA
Pol.
5’
RNA
33. Eukaryotic termination
Less well defined
May be similar to Rho-independent
type
RNA processing, termination and
polyadenylation proteins appear to
load onto RNAP-II soon after initiation
34. Differences between eukaryotic and
prokaryotic transcription
Eukaryotes– different
compartments for transcription
and translation.
Prokaryotes– translation starts
without undergoing processing
Promoter sites
35. Eukaryotic transcription
TATA box is bound by 34kDa protein TATA
binding protein (TBP)
TBP + TAF (TBP associated factor)
↓
TF II D
↓
1st step of formation of transcription
complex
↓
Other factors attach
Enhancers and silencers
38. Endonuclease cleavage
Poly-A tailing (20-250 A)
5’ capping– 7-methyl GTP
Methylation- Methylations of N6 of
Adenine residue and 2’-OH group
of ribose- done in cytoplasm
Removal of introns
Splicing of exons
39. Prokaryotes- translation starts
even before mRNA is completely
synthesised
t-RNA and r-RNA also undergo
post-transcriptional modification
40. Removal of introns
Exons– expressed regions
hn-RNA– M.W. 107 ; mature RNA 1-
2×106
Introns removed and exons are
spliced (joined) together
Energy requiring process
Takes place in nucleus
41.
42. SnRNA (Small nuclear)
90-300 nucleotides
U1,U2,U4,U5,U6 &U7
Uracil-rich
Present in nucleus
SnRNA+ specific proteins=SNURP
(small nuclear ribonuclear protein
particles)
Form spliceosomes (SnRNP +hnRNA at
exon -intron junction)
Spliceosomes contain Ribozymes
44. Alternative splicing leads to differential
expression and certain diseases
Beta thalassaemia- a mutation in
an intron- exon junction- absent
beta chain synthesis
Glucokinase is expressed
differently in liver and pancreas
due to different promoters-
Differential splicing
45. Alternate editing
ApoB gene generates ApoB100 in liver
and in intestine ApoB48
In intestine same primary transcript is
formed but a cytidine deaminase
converts a CAA codon into UAA-
produces a 49kDa protein- ApoB48
46.
47. Inhibitors of Transcription
Inhibitor Source Mode of action
Actinomycin-D Antibiotics from
streptomyces
Insertion of
phenoxazone ring
between two G-C bp
of DNA
Rifampin Rifamycin Binds to β-subunit
of RNAP
α-Amanitin Mushroom RNAP II
inactivated
3’-deoxyadenosine Synthetic analogue Incorrect entry
into chain causing
chain termination
49. mi-RNA
Derived from large primary transcripts
through specific nucleolytic processing
Transcribed by RNAP-II
Genes located independently or within the
intronic DNA
Comes out to cytoplasm- acted upon by a
dicer nuclease and gets incorporated into
RISC (RNA induced silencing complex)