transcription chapter 25. objectives understand the process of transcription recognize the role of...
TRANSCRIPT
Objectives Understand the process of transcription
Recognize the role of RNA Polymerase
Recognize the significance of promoter and terminator regions of DNA
Explain how transcribed RNA is modified prior to exiting the nucleus. Understand the significance of this process
Transcription Consists of three stages
Initiation: attachment of RNA Polymerase to the promotor region on DNA
Elongation: building of the mRNA from the 3’ end of the DNA
Termination: release of RNA polymerase and mRNA following transcription of the terminator region of the DNA
Initiation
Genes on the DNA begin with a promoter region -- a sequence of A & T (TATA box)
Transcription initiation complex: transcription factors & RNA polymerase are bound to the promoter region on the DNA
Elongation Termination Once initiation is complete
the 2 strands of the DNA unwindto be copied into mRNA
RNA polymerase builds a mRNA strand complimentary to the DNA
Once the RNA Polymerase (Transcriptase) is done copying, the DNA strands zips back up to form their double helix
When the RNA Polymerase reaches the terminator region of the DNA, it lets go and releases the mRNA
The transcribed termination sequence on the mRNA is AAUAAA
Transcribed mRNA (pre-mRNA) must be modified before leaving the nucleus
There are special “dividers” in the mRNA that need to be cut out. They are not part of the genetic information, just organizers.
Modification of mRNA
Transcribed mRNA is too long and is shortened before it leaves the nucleus by a special cutting process
Exons are segments of the pre-mRNA that contain genetic information that will be create proteins
Introns are just divisions between the EXONS
Further Modifications
How is this done?
Spliceosomes remove introns while connecting exons together
Ribozymes also help catalyze the removal of introns from mRNA