Sunday, March 29, 2015

Biotechnology DNA Cloning


Compare/Contrast: PCR , Vector Cloning, & Sanger's DNA sequencing



PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Steps

Vector Cloning 

Sanger's DNA Sequencing



Sunday, March 1, 2015

Translation

1) Initiation

  • mRNA transferred to the ribosomes
  • Initiation factors (protein) assemble 
    • Small ribosomal sub-unit - attaches to mRNA near start codon (AUG)
    • Initiator tRNA - first to bind with codon (carrying methionine amino acid)
    • mRNA
    • Large ribosomal sub-unit - to form active ribosome
  • 3 binding sites for tRNA 
    • P (peptide) - contains tRNA with polypeptide attached
    • A (amino acid) - contains tRNA with next amino acid added to polypeptide chain
    • E (exit) - uncharged tRNA with no amino acid attached exits
  • Moves from 5' to 3'

2) Elongation

  • tRNA anticodons bind to mRNA codons in the 'A' site of the ribosome
  • Initiating transfer RNA binds to the 'P' site
  • tRNA recognizes the next codon and second amino acid moves to 'A' site
  • Amino acid from tRNA joins amino acid by the tRNA that just entered 'A' site
  • First transfer RNA is released
  • Next transfer RNA moves to 'A' site and ribosome moves down one codon
  • Second amino acid on tRNA in 'P' site transfers to third amino acid
  • And Continues: Ribosome to move along mRNA and new amino acids are added to the growing polypeptide chain

3) Termination

  • Terminates when mRNA reaches stop codon
    • Stop Codons: UAA, UAG, UGA 
  • Release factor (protein) cuts the polypeptide from last tRNA

Transcription

1) Initiation
  • Transcription Factors assemble on the promoter region (TATA box)
  • RNA polymerase II binds to the transcription factors (transcription initiation complex)

2) Elongation
  • Moving from 5' to 3', RNA polymerase synthesizes a strand of pre-mRNA that is complimentary to the template strand of DNA
    • Template strand (antisense strand)- the sequence of DNA that is copied 
    • Coding strand (sense strand)- the sequence that corresponds with 
  • Pre-mRNA strand, Thymine is replaced with Uracil 

3) Termination
  • RNA polymerase II reaches the terminator sequence (AAUAA), transcription stops
  • Pre-mRNA is removed
  • Pre-mRNA protected by G cap (guanine) on the 5' side and poly A tail on the 3' side
  • RNA splicing 
    • Introns (non-coding regions) - are removed from pre-mRNA
    • Exons (coding regions) - join to form the mature mRNA
    • snRNA + snRNP(proteins) - recognizes regions where exons and introns meet
    • snRNP interact with other proteins = larger spliceosome complex that removes introns
  • mRNA strand is complete and ready to transport to the ribosomes (factory)