Monday, June 29, 2020

Plus Two Biology|Zoology|Chapter-6|Molecular Basis of Inheritance|Part-VI|Genetic code|Translation

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In this session Bio Strips Media takes through the important topics of Molecular Basis of Inheritance. It is one of the most important and scoring topics in Plus Two Biology Exam and NEET Exam. 

 

This lecture covers:

·         Genetic code

·         Translation

 



GENETIC CODE

Genetic code refers to the relationship between the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA and the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide.

George Gamow, who suggested that the code must be made up of three bases(triplet codons).

The 64 distinct triplets determine the 20 amino acids. These triplets are called codons. Any coded message by these codons is commonly called cryptogram.

Har Gobind Khorana could synthesise RNA molecules with definite combinations of bases.

Marshal Nierenberg made a cell free system for protein synthesis that helped in deciphering the code.

Severo Ochoa discovered enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase that could polymerise RNA with definite sequence in template - independent manner.   

The checkerboard pattern of genetic code was prepared as given below:

 

The salient features of genetic code are given below:

The codons are triplets and there are 64 codons, 61 codons code for 20 amino acids and 3 codons do not code for any amino acid, but function as stop/termination codons or nonsense codons. 

Three codons viz UAG (Amber), UAA (ochre) and UGA (opal) are non sense codons.

Each codons code for only one amino acid and so the genetic code is unambiguous and specific.

Since some amino acids are coded by more than one codon, the genetic code is said to be degenerate.

The codons are read in a contiguous manner in a 5' -3' direction and have no punctuations.

The genetic code is universal, the codons code for the same amino acid in any organism.

AUG has dual functions of coding for methionine and acting as initiation codon. 

Wobble hypothesis was given by FHC Crick . According to this,  the third nitrogenous base of a codon is not much significant and Codon is specified by the first two bases. Hence the same tRNA can recognise more than one codons differing only at third position. 

Translation

It is a process in living cells in which the genetic information encoded in messenger RNA in the form of a sequence of nucleotide triplets (codons) is translated into a  sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain during protein synthesis.

Ribosomes serve as the site for protein synthesis hence they are called protein factories. Each ribosome consists of large and small subunits.  the two subunits come together only at the time of protein synthesis. The phenomena is called Association . MG 2 + is essential for it. Many ribosomes line up on the mRNA chain during Protein synthesis. Such a row of active ribosomes is called a polyribosome or simply a polysome.

Ribosome also acts as a catalyst (23 s r RNA in bacteria is enzyme ribozyme) for formation of peptide Bond.

Eukaryotic ribosome has a groove at the junction of the two subunits. Trom this groove a tunnel extends through the large subunit and opens into a Canal of  the endoplasmic reticulum.  The polypeptides are synthesized in the groove between the two ribosomal subunits and pass through the Tunnel of the large subunit into the endoplasmic reticulum. While in the groove the developing polypeptide is protected from the cellular enzymes. The small subunit forms a cap over the large subunit. The large subunit attaches to the endoplasmic reticulum by two glycoproteins named ribophorin 1 and 2.

A ribosome has one binding site for mRNAi and three binding sites for t RNA. P- site (peptidyl tRNA site) that holds the tRNA carrying the growing polypeptide chain. A- site (aminoacyl tRNA site) which holds the tRNA carrying next  amino acid to be added to the chain and E -site (exit site) were discharged tRNAs leave the ribosome. these sites span across the large subunits of the ribosome. however the first tRNA amino acid Complex directly enters the P site of the ribosome.

It is a messenger RNA which brings coded information from DNA and takes part in its translation by bringing amino acids in a particular sequence during the synthesis of polypeptide. the codons of mRNA are recognised by anticodons of tRNAs. 

Protein synthesis is an elaborate process and occurs as follows

Activation of amino acids

In this process amino acid reacts with ATP to form amino acid amp Complex and pyrophosphate. This complex is called an activated amino acid.

The activated amino acid attached to the amino acid binding site (3'end) of its specific t RNA. where its cooh group bonds to 0h group of the terminal base triplet CCA. The process commonly called as charging of tRNA or aminoacylation of tRNA.

The reaction is catalysed by the enzyme amino acyl tRNA synthetase.

Initiation of polypeptide chain

The translation of mRNA begins with the formation of initiation complex. The union of mRNA,a tRNA bearing the first amino acid of the polypeptide and the two subunits of a ribosome forms the translation initiation complex.

Proteins called initiation factors IFs in prokaryotes and eIFs in eukaryotes are necessary to bring all the components of the translation initiation Complex together. GTP supplies the energy for the formation of initiation complex.

The small subunit of a ribosome attaches to mRNA and specific charged initiator tRNA. 

In prokaryotes rRNA of the small subunit base pairs with specific sequence of nucleotides in the mRNAs leader segment.

 in eukaryotes 5Prime cap first tell the small subunit to bind to the mRNAs five Prime end.

The initiator codon (AUG) which signals the start of translation

The initiator tRNA joins the initiation codon by its anticodon through hydrogen bonds.

It carries  the amino acid formyl methionine in prokaryotes and methionine  in eukaryotes.

Now the large subunit of ribosome joins the small subunit.

At this stage the initiator tRNA lies at the P site of the ribosome and the A site is vacant to let another charged tRNA to enter.

Elongation of polypeptide chain

In the elongation stage of translation, amino acids are added one by one to the first amino acid. Each addition requires the help of certain proteins called elongation factors. In prokaryotes the elongation factors are termed EF-Tu, EF-Ts and EF-G.

An aminoacyl tRNA with its amino acid enters the ribosome at the A site. It's anticodon reads and binds to the complementary codon of mRNA by hydrogen bonds.

The amino acid on tRNA at P site and the newly arrived amino acid at A site join by a peptide Bond. It is formed between the carboxyl group of first amino acid and the amino group of the second amino acid. the reaction is catalysed by peptidyl transferase.

Thus the second tRNA carries a dipeptide and the first t RNA is without amino acid.

Translocation -  in this step the ribosome moves one codon towards the three Prime end of the mRNA. 

This movement shifts the anti codon of the dipeptidyl tRNA from the A site to the P site and shifts the deacylated tRNA from the P site to the E site, from where the deacylated tRNA is released into the cytosol.

The third codon of the mRNA now lies in the A site and the second codon in the P site.

Now the next cycle starts. The ribosome moves from codon to codon along the mRNA in the five Prime to 3 Prime direction.

 Amino acids are added one by one in the sequence of the codon and become joined together to form polypeptide.

Termination of polypeptide synthesis

Termination is signaled by the presence of one of three termination codons in the mRNA (UAA, AUG, UGA) imediately following the final coded amino acid. 

When one of the  termination codon comes at A site it does not code for any amino acid and there is no tRNA molecule for it. as a result the polypeptide synthesis stops.

 Three  release factors RF-1, RF-2 and RF-3 contribute in release of the free polypeptide and last tRNA from the ribosome. 

The process is repeated several times creating polysomes. mRNA has some additional sequences that are not translated are referred to as untranslated regions (UTRs), required for efficient translation.


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