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DNA & Protein Synthesis

Codon Chart
First Base U UUU phenylalanine UUC phenylalanine UUA leucine UUG leucine CUU leucine CUC leucine CUA leucine CUG leucine AUU isoleucine AUC isoleucine AUA isoleucine AUG(start) methionine GUU valine GUC valine GUA valine GUG valine Second Base C UCU serine UCC serine UCA serine UCG serine CCU proline CCC proline CCA proline CCG proline ACU threonine ACC threonine ACA threonine ACG threonine GCU alanine GCC alanine GCA alanine GCG alanine A UAU tyrosine UAC tyrosine UAA stop UAG stop CAU histidine CAC histidine CAA glutamine CAG glutamine AAU asparagine AAC asparagine AAA lysine AAG lysine GAU aspartate GAC aspartate GAA glutamate GAG glutamate G UGU cysteine UGC cysteine UGA stop UGG tryptophan CGU arginine CGC arginine CGA arginine CGG arginine AGU serine AGC serine AGA arginine AGG arginine GGU glycine GGC glycine GGA glycine GGG glycine Third base U C A G U C A G U C A G U C A G

Proteins are essential to cell activity. How are proteins used in cells? Proteins are made of polypeptides. Each gene that makes up chromosomes codes

2 for a polypeptide. Through a series of steps this code is translated and transcribed into a polypeptide. In this activity, your group will determine the nucleotide sequences for template DNA and mRNA, amino acid sequences that makes up a polypeptide (from the chart on the first page), the sequence of tRNAs, make models of each and demonstrate to your TA how to make a polypeptide. Your group will model the processes of transcription and translation, that is, protein synthesis. Once you have made one polypeptide, the TA will assign your group one of the mutations listed below. Use the worksheet, mRNA code chart, and mutation descriptions (at the end of the worksheet) to determine the new amino acid sequence and name the type of mutation. Predict how the amino acid change will or will not affect the function of the protein produced by this gene.

Protein Synthesis Worksheet

NOTE there are not enough molecular model pieces to physically make the mutations and create new mRNA and amino acid sequences. Use the segment of worksheet below to determine the outcome of the mutation assigned to your group. Please make sure your molecular model is returned to the original configuration when you are finished.

Be prepared to share your findings with your classmates. Original Transcription and Translation
A T G C G A A A G A C G(more bases) T A C G C T T T C T G C(more bases) DNA gene strand DNA template strand

(more bases)

mRNA Codons

Amino Acids of Polypeptide

Mutation Activity #1

Inversion of base pair #6 Type of Mutation? _______________________________________ A T G C G T A A G A C G(more bases) T A C G C A T T C T G C(more bases) DNA gene strand DNA template strand

(more bases)

mRNA Codons

Amino Acids of Polypeptide

Mutation Activity #2

Inversion base pair #4 Type of Mutation? _________________________________________ A T G G G A A A G A C G(more bases) T A C C C T T T C T G C(more bases) DNA gene strand DNA template strand

(more bases)

mRNA Codons

Amino Acids of Polypeptide

Mutation Activity #3

Inversion base pair #7 Type of Mutation? __________________________________________ A T G C G A T A G A C G(more bases) T A C G C T A T C T G C(more bases) DNA gene strand DNA template strand

(more bases)

mRNA Codons

Amino Acids of Polypeptide

Mutation Activity #4

Deletion of a base pair #3 Type of Mutation? ______________________________________ A T T A C G A A A G A C G(more bases) G C T T T C T G C....(more bases) DNA gene strand DNA template strand

....(more bases)

mRNA Codons

Amino Acids of Polypeptide

Mutation Activity #5

Insertion of three base pairs between BPs #5 and #6 (within a codon) Type of Mutation? _____________________________________ A T G T A C C G G C C C C A A A G A C G) DNA gene strand G G G T T T C T G C DNA template strand

mRNA Codons Amino Acids of Polypeptide

Silent Mutation: A small change in the DNA nucleotide base sequence produces a change in one codon in the mRNA molecule, but because of redundancy in the genetic code, the new codon codes for the same amino acid as the original codon. Missense Mutation: A small change in the DNA nucleotide base sequence produces a change in one codon in the mRNA molecule that does code for a different amino acid. Nonsense Mutation: A change in the DNA nucleotide base sequence produces a STOP codon in the mRNA upon transcription. The whole gene is transcribed, but the STOP codon is embedded someplace in the mRNA molecule. This means that TRANSLATION of the mRNA at the ribosome stops at this STOP codon. Frame shift Mutation: In this example, the deletion of one nucleotide base pair results in the transcription of an mRNA molecule that is missing one nucleotide base. When this mutant mRNA molecule is translated at a ribosome, the reading of the molecule starts as usual with the translation of the first three bases as the first codon. The ribosome continues reading the mRNA three bases at a time the three base reading frame. When the ribosome attempts to translate the part of the mRNA where the nucleotide base is missing, it simply reads the next three nucleotide bases as the next codon. This results in a shift of the reading frame. Consequently, all the codon sequences are shifted by one base, producing a very different sequence of amino acids during translation.

Frame shift mutations occur when one or more nucleotide base pairs in the DNA of the gene are lost or added. An interesting exception is the deletion - or addition - of three or multiples of three nucleotide base pairs see Expanding Mutation. Insertion or Expanding Mutation: In this type of mutation three or multiples of three nucleotide base pairs are added to the DNA of a gene. Often, these insertions are repeating sequences of DNA nucleotides, like a genetic stutter in the DNA. When this happens in the coding section of some genes, like the Huntington disease gene, the mutant protein causes severe degeneration of the nervous system, and ultimately death. Sometimes repeating segments occur in sections of DNA that are NOT genes that code for proteins, producing variations in particular segments of DNA that are used in DNA profiling. One person may have 10 repeats in a specific section of his DNA inherited from his father and 8 repeats inherited from his mother. Another person may have inherited 6 repeats in the same segment of DNA from her father and 14 from her mother. These small differences are enough to allow positive identification of a person, based solely on her DNA.