Central Dogma of Molecular Biology and Protein Synthesis

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the central dogma of molecular biology, mRNA processing, translation, and protein structure and function.

N-linked glycosylation

A type of protein glycosylation where oligosaccharides are attached to the nitrogen atom in the side chain of asparagine residues.

O-linked glycosylation

A type of protein glycosylation where oligosaccharides are attached to the hydroxyl group of serine or threonine residues.

mRNA

Messenger RNA; a form of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA by RNA polymerase.

RNA polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.

Promoter

A DNA sequence where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Transcription factors

Proteins that bind to DNA and regulate the transcription of specific genes.

RNA splicing

The process of removing introns from pre-mRNA and connecting exons to form a mature mRNA.

Spliceosome

A complex of proteins and RNA that carries out RNA splicing.

Polyadenylation

The addition of a poly-A tail to the 3' end of an RNA molecule, which is important for stability and export.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

tRNA

Transfer RNA; an adapter molecule that translates the mRNA codon sequence into an amino acid sequence.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase

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

Peptide bond

The bond formed between amino acids during protein synthesis.

Translation termination

The process in which a ribosome reads a stop codon, resulting in the release of the synthesized protein.

Polyribosome

A group of several ribosomes translating the same mRNA strand simultaneously.

Antibiotics

Substances that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by targeting prokaryotic ribosomes.

Hydrophobic interactions

Interactions that occur between non-polar molecules in an aqueous environment, contributing to protein folding.

Phosphorylation

The addition of a phosphate group to a molecule, often regulating protein function.

Ubiquitin

A small protein that tags other proteins for degradation by the proteasome.

Ligand binding

The interaction between a protein and a molecule (ligand) that influences protein function.

Enzyme-substrate complex

The intermediate formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme.

Activation energy

The minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Covalent modifications

Chemical changes to proteins that alter their function, such as phosphorylation.