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 Student ID. 031342

GENE EXPRESSION
OBJECTIVES OF THIS REVIEW WORK

 To explain the process of gene expression

 To represent the control of gene expression.

 To explain the factors which control gene expression.

GENE
Genes are the unit of heredity. In physical terms, a gene is
a discrete segment of DNA or RNA with a base sequence.

Gene may be located on either strand of the double

stranded DNA, has a specific effect on the organism’s
morphology or physiology.

Genes may be assigned to one of the two broad functional

categories:
 Structural genes: Structural genes needed for the
normal metabolic activities of the cell, e.g., enzymes,
structural proteins, and receptors.
 Regulatory genes: Regulatory genes code for
polypeptides, that forms proteins regulate the activity of
structural genes.
GENE EXPRESSION
Gene expression is the process by which the biological information in a DNA molecule stored in its base
sequence is made available to the cell by synthesizing proteins at the correct time and in the correct place.

 DNA copy their information by directing the synthesis of RNA.

 RNA directs the synthesis of polypeptide whose amino acid

sequence is determine by base sequence of RNA.

Fig. The flow of Genetic Information

GENE EXPRESSION TOOLS

Two main tools of gene expression are DNA and RNA.

Genes of all true organisms are made of DNA, certain
virus and viroids have genes made of RNA.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

 Messenger RNA: Carrying DNA’s Message

 Transfer RNA: The Key to Translation

 The Ribosomal RNA: A Mobile Molecular Factory for

Translation
 GENETIC CODE
Genetic code is the set of rules by which a gene is translated into a
functional protein.
Sets of three nucleotides, known as codons, each correspond to a
specific amino acid or to a signal.
There are 64 possible codons and only 20 standard amino acids; hence
multiple codons can specify the same amino acid.

Fig. 7:The genetic code: Codons of mRNA that specify a given amino acid
PROCESS OF GENE EXPRESSION

The process of gene expression occurs in two steps: (1) Transcription

and (2) Translation.

1. Transcription:
A complementary RNA strand is synthesized from a DNA
template, which means to transfer data from one form to
another.

Transcription in prokaryotes:

In prokaryotic organisms, transcription occurs in three

phases.
 Initiation: Transcription is initiated when RNA polymerase
recognizes a segment of the DNA called the promoter region that lies
near the beginning of the gene segment to be transcribed.

Fig. Initiation of transcription in prokaryotes.

 Elongation: During elongation, the RNA polymerase moves along
the DNA molecule melting and unwinding the double helix as it
progresses.

Fig. Elongation process of transcription

Termination: RNA synthesis continue until RNA polymerase reaches
a site on the DNA called terminator sequence or stop signal. When this
happened then RNA polymerase and newly form mRNA are released
from the DNA.

Fig. Termination process of transcription

 Transcription in eukaryotes:

There are a few differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene

expression.
 In Prokaryotes, transcription occurs in the cytoplasm, where
Eukaryotes occur in nucleus.

Eukaryotes contains several intervening sequences of bases,

called introns, that do not code for product. Introns are interspersed
between coding regions, called exons that will be translated into
product, where Prokaryotes has no introns.
 This introns problem can be overcome by split gene method, where
protein named spliceosome, remove the introns part from mRNA.

Fig. The split gene of eukaryotes

 1. Translation:
In translation, all of the elements needed to synthesize a protein, from the mRNA
to the amino acids are brought together on the ribosomes. The process of
translation are-
 Initiation:
Initiator tRNA recognizes the start codon AUG and carries the
amino acid methionine.
This tRNA binds with peptidyl tRNA binding site (P-site). The
second site, aminoacyl tRNA binding site (A-site), remains
empty.

Fig. Initiation process of transcription

 Chain Elongation:
An aminoacyl-tRNA molecule is bind to the empty A-site.
Peptide bond formation occurs and the peptide chain is shifted to the
tRNA that occupies the A-site.
Finally, the tRNA in the P-site falls away, and the ribosome changes
positions so that the next codon on the mRNA occupies the A-site.

Fig. Elongation process of transcription

Termination:
When three “stop” codons (UAA, UAG, UGA) which has no
corresponding tRNA molecules is encountered then translation terminate.
A release factor binds the empty A-site, hydrolyzes the ester bond
between the peptidyl tRNA and the last amino acid.
At last, tRNA, the newly synthesized peptide, and the two ribosomal
subunits are released.

Fig. Termination process of transcription

REGULATION OR CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION

Organisms regulate the expression of their genes largely by controlling

when the transcription of individual genes begins. Two type of
regulation can be seen.

Positive Regulation: Special regulatory protein is

bind to the DNA and turns on the transcription.
 Negative Regulation: Binding of regulatory protein
with the DNA has been blocked by repressor protein
hence block the transcription.

 Gene expression can be controlled is by altering the sequence of

nucleotides in the DNA itself.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT ON GENE EXPRESSION

Genes effects depend not only on their own functions but also
on the functions of other genes, as well as on the internal and
external environment.

Example: “INDUSTRIAL MELANISM”

MELANISM is a phenomenon that has
been studied in a large number of insect species, especially moths.
It occurs when light-colored organisms are gradually replaced by
dark-colored ones in populations living in soot-darkened habitats
produced by pollution from factories, trucks, tractors,
tractors and other
large fossil fuel- powered machines in highly industrialized regions
of the world.

Thus, individuals with the same genotype can have different

phenotypes, and individuals with the same phenotypes may have
different genotypes.
CONCLUSION

Gene expression is simply a conversion process where the

bases through the formation of codon participate in the
synthesis of protein. This protein formation is always
regulated in both positive and negative manner by the cell
itself. However, it is always under control at the level of
DNA also.
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