L18 Polypeptide Synthesis

Polypeptide
synthesis
DNA and Polypeptide Synthesis
Inquiry question: Why is polypeptide synthesis important?
Students:
Model the process of polypeptide synthesis, including:
- Assessing the importance of mRNA and tRNA in transcription and translation
- Transcription and translation

What is a polypeptide?
amino _________.
A polypeptide is a molecule made up of a chain of many __________ acids
peptide
The amino acids are held together by _____________ bonds.
peptide bonds
There are 20 different types of amino acids that can be joined in different
combinations.
inear
L_________ polypeptide chains twist and fold to form three-dimensional
proteins
_____________.
How are polypeptides made?
The instructions from a section of

DNA are first transcribed into a
mobile copy called mRNA
(messenger RNA).
The mRNA can move from the
from the nucleus to the cytoplasm
where it will bind to a ribosome.
The ribosome translates the mRNA
into the correct amino acid
sequence to form a polypeptide
Overview of polypeptide synthesis:

https://www.yourgenome.org/video/from-dna-
to-protein
Some terminology
enes
G_________ are the sections of DNA that
provide the coded instructions for
ibosomes to put amino acids into the
r____________
correct order to make each specific
polypeptide.
A sequence of 3 nucleotides on DNA is
called a triplet. When transcribed to mRNA,
the triplet is then calledcodon
a _________ and is
the code for a single amino acid.
The conversion of DNA into a protein is
called protein proteins
_______ _______________. Only
certain genes are expressed in specialised
cells for e.g
Quick questions
Where is DNA stored in eukaryotic cells?
The nucleus
What contains the instructions for making each type of polypeptide?
Genes in DNA
What process creates mRNA in the nucleus from DNA?
transcription
What sub-units are joined together to make a polypeptide?
Amino acids
At what sites in the cell are polypeptides formed?
Ribosomes in the cytoplasm
What process creates a polypeptide from the instructions in mRNA?
translation
How are proteins made from polypeptides?
By folding one or more into a 3D shape
DNA RNA
Deoxyribonucleic
Name Ribonucleic acid
acid
Number of
2 1
strands
Type of
deoxyribose sugar Ribose sugar
sugar
Nitrogenous Cytosine, Guanine, Cytosine, Guanine,
bases Adenine, Thymine Adenine, Uracil

Transcription
DNA
The mRNA will carry the same base sequence as the ___________ strand, except
for one difference, thymine is replaced with
uracil
During transcription both exons and introns
are transcribed forming pre-mRNA.
The introns/exons are then spliced (cut out)
of the pre-mRNA during RNA processing
resulting in mature mRNA.
Note: Lengths of non-coding DNA are not
‘junk DNA’. They appear to affect the shape
of chromatin and how tightly the DNA can
wind around histones; this determines
whether certain genes are read. Therefore,
some non-coding DNA plays a role in gene
expression.
RNA processing also involves the addition
of a:
5’cap and
poly (A) tail (50-250 adenine nucleotides)
these features stabilise the mRNA, stop it
from degrading and aid its movement to the
cytoplasm.
A strand of mRNA from one gene is
not always spliced in the same way.
Suggest an important consequence of
this.
Alternative splicing gives rise to
isoproteins (proteins with similar, but
not identical structure and function)
e.g. antibodies. This can be
advantageous because
Suggest why RNA processing does
not occur in prokaryotes
5 minute task
In your workbook, assess the importance of mRNA to the formation of proteins
(use ALARM).
Translation - tRNA
Translation is the process in which the
codons on mRNA are translated into a
sequence of amino acids (a
polypeptide).
During translation, ribosomes act as
‘docking stations’, for another type of
RNA, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) to deposit
their specific amino acids.
Like mRNA, tRNA is a form of RNA,
what four nitrogenous bases would
A, U, G, C
occur in tRNA?
________________________________
______________________________
tRNA is a small RNA molecule with
three unpaired bases (anticodon) which
codon
attach the tRNA to it’s complementary
bases (___________) on the mRNA
strand.
During translation, the ribosome moves along the
mRNA one codon at a time and tRNA molecules
bring their specific amino acids to their
complementary mRNA codon.
peptide bonds to
The amino acids join by __________
form a polypeptide chain and splice off their tRNA
carrier.
The tRNA returns to the cytoplasm to pick up
another amino acid.
The polypeptide is further processed and
The mRNA breaks into its individual nucleotides
for reuse.
5 minute task
In your workbook, assess the importance of tRNA to the formation of proteins (use
ALARM).
In humans, 20 amino acids are
involved in translation.
In mRNA, there are 64 possible
codons;
61 encode for an amino acid.
This means there is degeneracy
in the genetic code – most amino
acids can be encoded for by
more than one mRNA codon.
This creates some flexibility for
errors – a single change in one
base may not necessarily lead to
a change in the amino acid
produced.
3 are stop codons (no tRNA
molecules recognise these
codons, so translation is stopped
when these are reached)
The genetic code for the 20 amino
acids and stop codons
Complete the following in your workbook
Distinguish between the terms protein and polypeptide chain.
A polypeptide chain is a linear arrangement of many amino acids linked by peptide bonds; a protein
is a complex molecule made up of one or more polypeptide chains, folded into a specific three-
dimensional structure.
Define and differentiate between transcription and translation.
Transcription is the synthesis of messenger RNA from a DNA non-coding strand; translation is the
synthesis of a polypeptide sequence from mRNA with the aid of tRNA. Transcription occurs in the
nucleus whereas translation occurs on ribosomes in the cytoplasm
Contrast the roles of tRNA and mRNA during translation.
mRNA carries a coded instruction from DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it can be
decoded by tRNA to make protein; tRNA molecules carry specific amino acids and bring them into
a linear sequence, as directed by the code of mRNA, to make a polypeptide. tRNA is the link
between the mRNA code and the sequence of amino acids.
What molecule bears the:
a) codon? mRNA
b) anticodon? tRNA
Explain how a change in the DNA sequence could affect the resulting protein.
The sequence of bases in DNA directs the formation of mRNA and ultimately of the arrangement of
amino acids in a protein. A change in the DNA code may lead to a change in the base sequence of
mRNA so different tRNA could align, bringing the incorrect amino acid into place; this would
affect the structure and may affect the functioning of the resulting protein.

L18 Polypeptide Synthesis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

L18 Polypeptide Synthesis

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

L18 Polypeptide Synthesis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Polypeptide

Model the process of polypeptide synthesis, including:

- Assessing the importance of mRNA and tRNA in transcription and translation

- Transcription and translation

The instructions from a section of

Overview of polypeptide synthesis:

Nitrogenous Cytosine, Guanine, Cytosine, Guanine,

bases Adenine, Thymine Adenine, Uracil

You might also like