1. Nucleic Acids:
The Molecules of Life

2. Both are polymers. They are made up of monomers called ______________
DNA and RNA
Both are polymers.
They are made up of monomers called ______________

3. Nucleotides have three parts to them:
b _____________
c _____________

4. _____________ bonding…
Joins nucleotides together
____________ reaction
Eliminates ____ molecule

5. BASE P BASE Adenine Thymine P BASE BASE Thymine Adenine P BASE BASE
Sugar
Adenine
Thymine P
BASE
Sugar
BASE
Thymine
Adenine P
BASE
Sugar
BASE
Guanine
Cytosine P
BASE
Sugar
BASE
Cytosine
Guanine P
BASE
Sugar
BASE
Thymine
Adenine

6. The Bases ________: thymine cytosine _______: adenine guanine
RNA has URACIL instead of thymine

7. Base pairing…
Complementary base pairing

8. When cells divide, you need to have 2 copies of the DNA in the cell
DNA Replication

9. DNA Replication
Most important feature of DNA is its ability to replicate itself, (almost) exactly
The double helix is ‘unzipped’ during replication
New nucleotides are aligned along the DNA strands (built by DNA polymerase)
The new helix contains one original strand and one new strand

10. 1 2 3 4

11. Semi - conservative replication – Meselson & Stahl

12. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) & its role in Protein synthesis

13. The structure of ribonucleic acid
Learning Objectives:
Describe the structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Describe the structure and role of messenger RNA (mRNA)
Describe the structure and role of transfer RNA (tRNA)

14. RNA RNA = ribonucleic acid RNA is a single -stranded polymer
Each RNA nucleotide consists of:
A pentose sugar (ribose)
A phosphate group
A base – adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil (instead of thymine)
RNA used in protein synthesis is messenger RNA (mRNA) or transfer RNA (tRNA).

15. DNA RNA RNA contains the pentose sugar ribose.
DNA contains the pentose sugar deoxyribose.
DNA
RNA

16. Messenger RNA (mRNA)
mRNA is used to transfer the DNA code from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
mRNA is complementary to the DNA code.
mRNA is small enough to leave the nuclear pores.
Once in the cytoplasm, mRNA associates with the ribosomes.
mRNA is used to determine the sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis.
mRNA is easily broken down and only exists whilst it is needed to manufacture a protein.
The sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA is referred to as the genetic code.

17. Transcription (forming mRNA)

18. The Genetic Code (recap of unit 1)
3 nucleotide bases on mRNA (a codon) codes for each amino acid in a protein.
A few amino acids have a single codon.
The code is degenerate – most amino acids have more than one codon.
3 codons code for no amino acids – they are stop codons and mark the end of the polypeptide chain.
Non-overlapping – each nucleotide is read only once.
Universal – same codon codes for the same amino acid in all organisms (few minor exceptions).

19. Transfer RNA (tRNA) tRNA is a small molecule (~80 nucleotides).
Single stranded and folded into a clover leaf shape with one end of the chain slightly longer.
This longer section is attached to an amino acid.
Each tRNA can carry a different amino acid.
3 bases at the opposite end of the tRNA are called an anticodon.
Each amino acid has a different anticodon.
The anticodon pairs with the complementary codon on the mRNA.

20. Amino acid joins here
Anticodon

21. Comparison of DNA, mRNA and tRNA
Feature
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Double/Single
Size
Shape
Sugar
Bases
Quantity in cells
Stability

22. Comparison of DNA, mRNA and tRNA
Feature
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Double/Single
Double
Single
Size
Largest
Variable
Smaller
Shape
Double helix
Single helix
Clover shape
Sugar
Deoxyribose
Ribose
Bases
A, G, T, C
A, G, U, C
Quantity in cells
Constant (gametes)
Varies
Stability
Very stable
Unstable
More stable than mRNA, less than DNA

23. Polypeptide synthesis – transcription and splicing
Learning Objectives:
How is pre-mRNA produced from DNA in the process called transcription?
How is pre-mRNA modified to form mRNA?

24. The process by which DNA is ‘read’ to produce a strand of mRNA
TRANSCRIPTION
The process by which DNA is ‘read’ to produce a strand of mRNA
RNA polymerase
Coding Strand 5’ 3’
A G T C G T C A A T G C T A T G C A T T C C G T A C
T C A G C A G T T A C G A T A C G T A A G G C A T G
DNA 3’ 5’
A G U C G U C A A U G C U A U G C A U U C C G U A C
Template Strand
mRNA 5’ 3’

25. Transcription
Helicase (enzyme) acts on a region of DNA to break the hydrogen bonds between the bases.
RNA polymerase moves along one of the two DNA strands – template strand
RNA polymerase matches up complementary RNA nucleotides.
C matches G and G matches C
U matches A and A matches T
As the RNA nucleotides join together the pre-mRNA is formed.
The DNA behind the RNA polymerase rejoins into a double helix.
When the RNA polymerase reaches a “stop” codon, the chain is terminated and the pre-mRNA detaches.

26. Splicing of mRNA to form mRNA
Once the introns (non-functional DNA) have been removed, the remaining exon sections join together.

27. RNA Splicing
Spliceosome
snRNPs

28. Fun fact of the day…
Introns figured prominently in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 7, Episode 271, entitled "Genesis."
In this episode, a synthetic T-cell inadvertently activated the crewmembers' introns, resulting in de-evolution and the expression of ancient physiological traits

29. Transcription Animation
mRNA splicing

30. Polypeptide synthesis – translation
Learning Objectives:
How is a polypeptide synthesised during the process of translation?
What are the roles of mRNA and tRNA in translation?

31. TRANSLATION Remember our strand of mRNA from before? LYS ALA THR ILE
ARG
ALA
SER
VAL
SER
U C A
G C A
G U U
A C G
A U A
C G U
A A G
G C A
U G C
A G U C G U C A A U G C U A U G C A U U C C G U A C G

32. Synthesising the polypeptide (translation)
mRNA attaches to the ribosome at the “start” codon – AUG.
tRNA with a complementary anticodon attaches to the mRNA – UAC.
This tRNA is attached to an amino acid – methionine
The ribosome moves along the mRNA bringing in 2 tRNA molecules at any one time.
An enzyme and ATP are used to join the amino acids with a peptide bond.
The first tRNA is released and can collect another amino acid.
The process is repeated until a “stop” codon is reached.
Many ribosomes can travel along the mRNA at the same time – polysome.

34. Translation Animation

35. TASK Using PCs log onto www.WolframAlpha.com
Enter sequence of 22 bases from an imaginary DNA coding strand
Try several different strands with same software.
Who can get the most matches to the human genome?

36. TRANSLATION or TRANSCRIPTION
TASK
Create a model of either
TRANSLATION or TRANSCRIPTION
Can be any format e.g.: PowerPoint, Poster, 3D Model