Overview of Gene Expression and mRNA Processing

These flashcards summarize key concepts related to mRNA processing and translation as outlined in lecture notes.

mRNA Processing

The modification of pre-mRNA that occurs in the nucleus before it is exported to the cytoplasm for translation.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA templates with the help of ribosomes.

Initiation Codon

The codon that signals the start of translation, typically AUG, which codes for methionine.

Termination Codon

Codons that signal the end of translation; these include UAA, UAG, and UGA.

Beadle and Tatum Experiment

An experiment that established the one gene, one enzyme hypothesis through studying metabolic mutations in Neurospora.

Codon

A three-nucleotide sequence in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds that will fold into a functional protein.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase

An enzyme that attaches the appropriate amino acid to its corresponding tRNA.

Wobble Rule

A concept explaining that the third base in a codon can pair loosely with the corresponding tRNA, leading to flexibility in base-pairing.

Poly(A) Tail

A stretch of adenine nucleotides added to the 3' end of mRNA, important for stability and translation efficacy.