Proteins: Key to Cell Function

These flashcards cover important vocabulary related to proteins, DNA, and the processes of transcription and translation as discussed in the lecture.

Proteins

Large biomolecules made up of amino acids that play critical roles in the body, including transport, signaling, and structural functions.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

The molecule that carries genetic information in organisms.

Gene

A sequence of DNA that encodes for a specific protein.

Chromosome

A structure composed of DNA and proteins that contains genetic material.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in RNA that specify a particular amino acid.

mRNA (messenger RNA)

The RNA molecule that carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

tRNA (transfer RNA)

The RNA that transports amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

rRNA (ribosomal RNA)

The RNA that makes up the ribosomes, facilitating the translation of mRNA into protein.

Nucleus

The membrane-bound organelle in eukaryotic cells where DNA is housed and transcription occurs.

Base pair

A pair of complementary nucleotides in DNA, consisting of adenine-thymine (A-T) and cytosine-guanine (C-G).

Promoter region

A sequence of DNA that initiates transcription of a designated gene.

Terminator

The DNA sequence that signals the end of transcription.

Hydrogen bonding

The weak attraction between hydrogen atoms and electronegative atoms, significant for base pairing in DNA.

RNA polymerase

The enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

Genetic code

The set of rules by which information encoded in mRNA is translated into proteins.

Amino acid

The building blocks of proteins, each specified by a codon in the mRNA.

Polypeptide chain

A sequence of amino acids linked together that forms a protein.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a codon in mRNA.

Start codon

The specific codon (AUG) that signals the start of translation.

Stop codon

A codon that signals the termination of protein synthesis.

Gene expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to produce a functional product, typically a protein.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.

Genome

The complete set of genes or genetic material in a cell.

Adenine

A nucleotide that pairs with thymine in DNA.

Thymine

A nucleotide that pairs with adenine in DNA.

Cytosine

A nucleotide that pairs with guanine in DNA.

Guanine

A nucleotide that pairs with cytosine in DNA.

RNA transcript

The RNA molecule that is produced during the transcription of a gene.

Ribosome

The cellular machinery that synthesizes proteins by translating mRNA.

Secondary structure

The local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to interactions between atoms in the backbone.

Protein synthesis

The process of translating mRNA into a polypeptide chain that forms a protein.

Functional proteins

Proteins that have completed the correct folding and processing to perform their biological function.

Cell differentiation

The process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.

RNA splicing

The modification of the RNA transcript in which introns are removed and exons are joined together.