L3 DNA Translation

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

The central dogma of molecular biology describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

What is RNA?

RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid that plays an essential role in the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. It is typically single-stranded and consists of a long chain of nucleotides.

Requirements for translation

-Enzyme for protein synthesis (Ribosome - protein/RNA complex)

-Something to read the RNA (tRNA)

-Something to bring the protein(tRNA) to the ribosome.

What is the process of translation in molecular biology?

Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using messenger RNA (mRNA) as a template. It involves decoding the mRNA sequence into a polypeptide chain made of amino acids.

What is the role of tRNA in translation?

tRNA (transfer RNA) is responsible for bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome during translation, matching its anticodon with the codon on the mRNA.

anticodon

a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.

What are the steps of translation?

1. Initiation: The ribosome assembles around the mRNA and the first tRNA is attached.

2. Elongation: tRNA molecules bring amino acids to the ribosome, and the polypeptide chain grows.

3. Termination: The process ends when a stop codon is reached, and the newly synthesized protein is released.

methionine

initiator codon - AUG

UAA, UAG or UGA

stop/terminator codons at the end of proteins that signal the end of translation