RNA and Protein Synthesis

I. Introduction and Review

A. Fundamental Questions

• How does the information in DNA lead to the synthesis of specific proteins?
• How is the information in DNA transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm?

II. The Role of RNA

A. What are the types of RNA?

1. mRNA

• How does RNA differ from DNA?

from: http://images2.clinicaltools.com/images/gene/dna_versus_rna_reversed.jpg

• Transcription transcription2 transcription3

from: http://www.smartdraw.com/examples/science-biochem/images/dna_transcription.gif

• What are introns and exons?

from: http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Fg12_12.gif

• removal of introns

from: http://cats.med.uvm.edu/cats_teachingmod/microbiology/courses/gene_regulation/images/ariz.splice.Fig.1402.jpg

• How is information stored in RNA?
• The Genetic Code

from: http://www.blc.arizona.edu/INTERACTIVE/DNA3/code.html

• Coding Example

2. tRNA

• How does tRNA differ from mRNA?
• amino acid binding sites and aminoacyl tRNA synthetases
• anticodon

3. rRNA

• What is the main function of rRNA?
• What are ribosomal subunits?

from: http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/health/biomed/subjects/molbol/images/7_25.jpg

• What binding sites are found on the subunits?

III. Protein Synthesis (Translation)

A. What are the "players" in translation?

B. The Steps of Translation translation2 translation3

from: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0123260/basic%20knowledge/images/basic%20knowledge/RNA/translation%20steps.jpg

1. Initiation

2. Elongation

3. Termination

C. Is energy (ATP) required for protein synthesis?

IV. Summary

• The central dogma of molecular biology

from: http://cats.med.uvm.edu/cats_teachingmod/microbiology/courses/genomics/images_new/1_centraldogma_wisc_13.jpg