Molecular Biology

Molecular biology of the cell
Nucleotide
• Energy carriers
• Enzyme helpers
• Chemical messengers
• Subunits of DNA and
RNA
Nucleotide to DNA
A: Adenine
G: Guanine
T: Thymine
C: Cytosine
Figure 5-2a Essential Cell Biology (© Garland Science 2010)

Double stranded DNA and DNA double helix
DNA to RNA: Transcription
Transcription
Same base pairing complementarity is maintained

except U is incorporated in place of T.
RNA to Protein: Translation
Storage and transfer of genetic information
Central dogma of
transfer of genetic
information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_dogma_of_molecular_biology
Updated central dogma
(HIV)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_dogma_of_molecular_biology
Gene
A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes are made up of DNA.
Some genes act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. However, many
genes do not code for proteins. In humans, genes vary in size from a few hundred DNA
bases to more than 2 million bases.
Genome
Genome:
A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome
contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism.
Universal phylogenetic tree of life Genome size of some of

the organisms and human
E. coli 4.6 Mb
Yeast 12.1 MB
Drosophila 130 MB
Mouse 3 GB
Human 3.2 GB
Bacterial genome has compact organization
with very little space between the genes
• It is possible that such
compactness is required to
replicate the genome quickly.
• Bacteria can have circular or

linear chromosome
E. coli genome organization
E.coli chromosomes have about 4.7 x 106 base

pairs which results in a length of 1.6 mm. An
E.coli cell, however is only 0.002 mm long .
That explains why the DNA must be folded in
order to fit into the cell.
Figure 8.5 Genomes 3 (© Garland Science 2007)

Supercoiling is a good way of packaging of
E. coli genome
Reduced turns Negative super coiling
Additional turns Positive super coiling

Figure 8.2 Genomes 3 (© Garland Science 2007)
Bacterial genome undergoes simple and
minimal packaging
E. coli genome nucleoid structure

Protein core
Eukaryotic Nuclear Genome
Set of DNA molecules each contained in chromosomes
Linear DNA
At least 2 chromosomes
Lots of space in between

Genes
Packaged in well defines nucleosomes.

Higher level of packaging generates chromatin.
Mitotic chromosome
DNA is organized in chromosome
2 miters
to
10 micron
DNA is organized in chromosome
Chromosome number and types
Karyotyping reveals an individual’s diploid
complement of chromosomes
Myelogenous leukemia
Philadelphia Chromosome - CML

The eukaryotic cell cycle
Replication
DNA replication
DNA replication:
Each strand of a DNA double
helix is copied; two double-
stranded DNA molecules
result.
DNA polymerase moves 5’ to 3’ direction on the
growing strand incorporating new nucleotides
5’ 3’
DNA pol moves 5’
to 3’ direction
DNA Pol
DNA polymerase (DNA Pol)

adds a deoxyribonucleotide
to the 3ʹ end of a growing
DNA chain
5’
How a double-stranded molecule of DNA is replicated. A DNA polymerase uses a parental DNA strand as a template to
assemble a new strand of DNA from nucleotides. B The two parental DNA strands (blue) stay intact. A new strand
(magenta) is assembled on each of the parental (old) strands. C One strand of each DNA molecule that forms is new, and
the other is parental.
DNA polymerase complexes moves in two
opposite directions from the origin of
replication
Lagging DNA strands and Okazaki fragments
Checking for Mistakes: DNA repair
Radiation and toxic chemicals damaged DNA
Mistaking in copying damaged DNA
DNA repair machinery repairs the mistake

Checking for Mistakes: DNA proofreading
Mistake can be incorporated
by DNA Pol as it is adding up to
1000 bases / sec
It is corrected by proofreading
activity of the same molecule
of DNA Pol
Mutation
When proofreading and repair mechanisms fail, an

error becomes a mutation—a permanent change in
the DNA sequence.
Mutations can alter DNA’s genetic instructions, and

the outcome may or may not be harmful.
Mutations are the original source of variations in traits

—the raw material of evolution.
Transcription
DNA is transcribed into RNA
by the enzyme RNA polymerase
The electronmicrograph shows many molecules

of RNA polymerase simultaneously transcribing
two adjacent ribosomal genes on a single DNA
molecule. Molecules of RNA polymerase are
barely visible as a series of tiny dots along the
spine of the DNA molecule; each polymerase
has an RNA transcript (a short, fine thread)
radiating from it.
Promoter, start site and stop sequences
Promoters and terminators have specific
nucleotide sequences that are recognized by
RNA polymerase
Prokaryotes and eukaryotes have different gene
organization
Eukaryotes can generate different mRNA from
the same gene by alternate splicing of pre-
mRNA
Prokaryotes and eukaryotes handle their RNA
transcripts differently
Mature mRNAs are exported out of nucleus into
cytoplasm for protein synthesis
Mature mRNAs are exported out of nucleus through nuclear pore with the help of
some associated protein into cytoplasm for protein synthesis. In the cytosol, the
mRNA can shed some of these proteins and bind new ones and ribosomes for protein
synthesis.
Translaton: protein synthesis
Prokaryotes: Protein synthesis happens in cytoplasm

Eukaryotes: Protein synthesis happens in cytoplasm and on rough ER
mRNA is red by the ribosome using genetic
code
Genetic code is read with the help of tRNA
The genetic code is translated by the
cooperation of two adaptors: aminoacyl-tRNA
synthetases and tRNAs.
Each synthetase couples a particular amino acid to its corresponding tRNAs, a process
called charging. The anticodon on the charged tRNA molecule then forms base pairs
with the appropriate codon on the mRNA. An error in either the charging step or the
binding of the charged tRNA to its codon will cause the wrong amino acid to be
incorporated into a protein chain. In the sequence of events shown, the amino acid
tryptophan (Trp) is selected by the codon UGG on the mRNA.
Ribosome: the protein synthesis machine
Ribosome slides along the mRNA 5’-3’ direction
polymerizing amino acids one after another
1. With the formation of a new
peptide bond the growing
chain of amino acid is
transferred to the last tRNA.
A B 2. The empty previous tRNA
leaves.
3. Next tRNA loaded with the
next amino acid comes in and
forms a new peptide bod.
4. The cycle continues till
ribosome hits a stop codon.
C D
E F
Multiple ribosome are loaded on the same
mRNA molecule simultaneously producing
multiple copies of the coded protein
Mutation in genetic code
Differential gene expression

Molecular Biology

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Molecular biology of the cell

Figure 5-2a Essential Cell Biology (© Garland Science 2010)

Same base pairing complementarity is maintained

Universal phylogenetic tree of life Genome size of some of

• Bacteria can have circular or

E.coli chromosomes have about 4.7 x 106 base

Figure 8.5 Genomes 3 (© Garland Science 2007)

Reduced turns Negative super coiling

Additional turns Positive super coiling

E. coli genome nucleoid structure

Lots of space in between

Packaged in well defines nucleosomes.

Philadelphia Chromosome - CML

DNA polymerase (DNA Pol)

Radiation and toxic chemicals damaged DNA

Mistaking in copying damaged DNA

DNA repair machinery repairs the mistake

When proofreading and repair mechanisms fail, an

Mutations can alter DNA’s genetic instructions, and

Mutations are the original source of variations in traits

The electronmicrograph shows many molecules

Prokaryotes: Protein synthesis happens in cytoplasm

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