Protein Synthesis and Gene Expression Section 18.2

Amino Acids

An organic compound consisting of a carboxylic acid group (COOH), an amino group (NH₂), and any of various side groups, linked together by peptide bonds to form proteins

Genetic Code

The order of base pairs in a DNA molecule

Gene Expression

The transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein

Transcription

The first stage of gene expression, in which a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) is produced that is complementary to a segment of DNA

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Strand of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the protein synthesis machinery of the cell during transcription

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Type of RNA that works with messenger RNA (mRNA) to direct the synthesis of a polypeptide in a process known as translation

Translation

The second stage of gene expression, in which the mRNA nucleotide sequence directs the synthesis of a polypeptide (a chain of amino acids) with the aid of another RNA molecule, transfer RNA (tRNA)

Codon

In a gene, each set of three bases (for example, ACC or GAA) that codde for an amino acid or termination signal

RNA Polymerase

Main enzyme that catalyzes the formation of RNA from the DNA template

Promoter

During transcription, a sequence of nucleotides on the DNA molecule that tells the RNA polymerase complex where to bind

Anticodon

Specialized base triplet located on one lobe of a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule that recognizes its complementary codon on a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Linear strand of RNA that remains associated with the ribosomes

Genomics

The study of genomes as opposed to individual genes

Proteomics

The study of all proteins that are produced by a given genome