Review coveringRNA Processing & Translation

- Transcription has created a primary transcript (pre mRNA) that is not ready to be exported from the

nucleus to the ribosome in the cytosol. - In order to be “competent for translation”, the pre

mRNA must first be:- 1. Capped- 2. Tailed - 3. Spliced ** Not that in prokaryotic cells, mRNA transcripts are translated

without these types of manipulations to the nucleic acid, this is evidenced by the fact that translation of the mRNA often begins before transcription has finished. Additionally, prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus and so gene expression occurs in the cytoplasm.

This functions to:▪ 1. Protect the mRNA from nucleolytic

degradation.▪ 2. Create a 5’-5’ triphosphate bridge.▪ 3. Assist the ribosome in recognizing the start of

translation.

This involves several enzymatic reactions:▪ RNA Triphosphatase- Cleaves the leading phosphate group from the pre

RNAs 5’ terminal triphosphate group

▪ Capping Enzyme- Guanylates the pre mRNA, using GTP. This creates the 5’-5’ triphosphate bridge.

▪ 7-guanosine-methyltransferase- Methylates the mRNA, using S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to provide the –CH3 group.

▪ 2’-O-methyltransferase- Methylates the 1st and 2nd nucleotides of the pre mRNA

▪ Requires SAM

- Polyadenylated tail is around 250 nucleotides long that consists of a highly conserved AAUAAA.

- Functions to:- Protect the mRNA- Label the mRNA for nuclear export and ribosomal

recognition.** Not present in histones

- Enzymatically added to the pre mRNA in two reactions: 1. Cleavage- Occurs around 20 nucleotides past the AAUAAA sequence, and

less than 50 nucleotides before the U or GU rich sequence. This reaction eliminates the need for perfect termination of transcription 2. Poly (A) polymerase (PAP)- Creates the poly (A) tail, using ATP PAP is a template-independent RNAP that lengthens any mRNA primer that has a free 3’

hydroxyl group. PAP is activated by cleavage and polyadenylation specifity factor (CPSF) , which recognizes the

AAUAAA sequence and then disassociates; much like the sigma factor in prokaryotes. CPSF binds to RNAP IIs phosphorylated C terminal domain.

** Deleting CPSF will INHIBIT polyadenylation** ** Please note: The poly (A) tail is not needed for mRNA translation; however it

functions to protect the mRNA in the cytosol. This is evidenced by the fact that histones are the only mature mRNAs that lack AUAAA sequences**

Primary transcripts are also called (pre mRNAs) This mRNA includes introns, which are

nonexpressed and constitute much of the genome. Capping occurs after initiation, with splicing

commencing during the elongation phase of transcription.

mRNA that is ready for translation (mature RNA) after splicing is complete and the RNA has been polyadenylated; and at this point it is exported to the cytosol where ribosomes use it to create protein.

1. Lariat Structure- is formed when a 2’,5’ phosphodiester bond is created between an intron adenosine residue and the intron’s 5’ terminal phosphate group. At this point the 5’ exon is released, creating the loop (lariat)

* Mutating a branch point adenosine residue destroys the ability to splice at this site.

2. Spliced product- Created when 5’ exons free 3’ –OH group displaces the 3’ end of the intron. This forms a phosphodiester bond with the 5’ terminal phosphate of the exon and the 3’.The loop is later degraded.

* Mutations that change the AG at the 3’ splice junction block this step, but do not block loop formation.

** These two transesterification reactions do not require energy input, as the energy is transferred through the concomitant formation of new phosphodiester bonds.

U1 snRNP “Snurp”- recognizes and cleaves 5’ of intron.

U2 snRNP- recognizes the branch point adenine.

Spliceosome (45S) Complex- splices 5’ end to branch point adenine

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs)- form complexes to make snRNPS

U6- catalytically essential metal ion that enhances nucleophilicity of OH and stabilizes the leaving group in the reaction.

** intron removal occurs before transcription of pre RNA is complete.**

tRNAs (Transfer RNA)- Carry amino acids to be used in protein synthesis to the Ribosome.

tRNA Structure

tRNAs can be schematically arranged into a cloverleaf secondary structure and have 6 common features:1. a 5’-terminal phosphate group2. Acceptor stem- The amino acid residue carried by the tRNA

is covalently attached to its 3’-terminal OH group. 3. D arm- D for dihydrouridine, which is part of the loop of the

arm. 4. Anticodon arm- contains the anticodon sequence. The 3’

purine is invariable modified. 5. TψC or T arm- pseudouridine 6. CCA sequence- 3’ sequence with a free OH group. May be

genetically specified of enzymatically added to immature tRNA.

tRNA also has: 15 invariant positions that do not change, and 8

semi-invariant positions- that are only purine/ only pyrimidine which occur mostly in the loop regions.

Variable arm- site of greatest variability. None of these modifications are essential for

maintaining a tRNA’s structural integrity or for its proper binding to the ribosome. However, base modifications may help promote attachment of the proper amino acid to the acceptor stem or strengthen codon–anticodon interactions.

•The functions of the ribosome: The complexity of ribosomes allows it to carry out the following vital functions: The ribosome binds mRNA such that its codons can be

read with high fidelity. The ribosome includes specific binding sites for tRNA

molecules. The ribosome mediates the interactions of

nonribosomal protein factors that promote polypeptide chain initiation, elongation, and termination.

The ribosome catalyzes peptide bond formation. The ribosome undergoes movement so that it can

translate sequential codons.

Ribosomes orchestrate the translation of mRNA to synthesize polypeptides:

Polypeptide synthesis proceeds from the N-terminus to the C-terminus.

Chain elongation occurs by linking the growing polypeptide to the incoming tRNA’s amino acid residue

Ribosomes read mRNA in the 5′ → 3′ direction. Because mRNA is also synthesized in the 5′ → 3′ direction,

prokaryotic ribosomes can commence translation as soon as a nascent mRNA emerges from RNA polymerase. This, however, is not possible in eukaryotes because the nuclear membrane separates the site of transcription (the nucleus) from the site of translation (the cytosol).

Active translation occurs on polysomes

Initiation: IF-2 + GTP bind to the start codon (AUG/Met) Small subunit find the kozac sequence (ACCAUGG) Shine-Dalgarno in prokaryotes (AGGAGG) Initiation begins at AUG Initiation Factors: IF-1: Assists IF-3 IF-2: Binds initiator tRNA to GTP IF-3: Releases mRNA and tRNA from subunit

Elongation: (Decoding->Transpeptidation->Translocation) -tRNA binds to the A-site

Requires EF-Tu, EF-Ts and GTP Peptidyl Transferase of large subunit forms peptide bond is

without input of ATP/GTP (Ribosomes are ribozymes) mRNA translocates 5’ to 3’ to next three codons Peptidyl moves from A site to P site tRNA moves from the P site to the E site, driven by EF-G and

GTP Elongation Factors:

EF-Tu: Binds aa-tRNA to GTP EF-Ts: Displaces GDP from EF-Tu EF-G: Promotes translocation through GTP binding and

hydrolysis.

Termination: RFs mimic tRNAs and bind to stop codons Use GTP to bind the protein to water, terminating the

chain. Release Factors RF-1: Recognizes UAA and UAG stops RF-2: Recognizes UAA and UGA stops RF-3: Stimulates RF-1 and 2 release via GTP

hydrolysis RRF: Together with EF-G, induces ribosomal

dissociation of the small and large subunits.

1. The primary transcripts of most eukaryotic structural genes are posttranscriptionally modified by the addition of a 5′ cap and a 3′ poly(A) tail. mRNAs that contain introns undergo splicing, in which the introns are excised and the exons are joined together via two transesterification reactions mediated by an snRNA-containing spliceosome.

2. The processing of pre-rRNAs includes nucleolytic cleavage and snoRNA-assisted methylation. Some eukaryotic rRNA transcripts undergo splicing catalyzed by the intron itself.

3. tRNA transcripts may be processed by the addition, removal, and modification of nucleotides.

4. The genetic code, by which nucleic acid sequences are translated into amino acid sequences, is composed of three-nucleotide codons that do not overlap and are read sequentially by the protein-synthesizing machinery.

5. The standard genetic code of 64 codons includes numerous synonyms, three Stop codons, and one initiation codon.

6. All tRNAs have numerous chemically modified bases and a similar cloverleaf secondary structure comprising an acceptor stem, D arm, TψC arm, anticodon arm, and variable arm. The three-dimensional structures of tRNAs are likewise similar and are maintained by stacking interactions and non-Watson–Crick hydrogen-bonded cross-links.

7. Aminoacyl–tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze the ATP-dependent attachment of an amino acid to the appropriate tRNA to yield an aminoacyl–tRNA (aa–tRNA). The acceptor stem and anticodon loop are common identity elements for tRNA–aaRS interactions. The fidelity of aminoacylation is enhanced by proofreading.

8. Wobble pairing between mRNA codons and tRNA anticodons at the third position accounts for much of the degeneracy of the genetic code.

9. Ribosomes, which are large complexes of RNA and protein, have a structure that is determined by their RNA components. A small subunit and large subunit associate to form the intact ribosome, which accommodates an aa–tRNA in the A site, a peptidyl–tRNA in the P site, and a deacylated tRNA in the E site.

10. During translation initiation, an initiator tRNA charged with fMet (prokaryotes) or Met (eukaryotes), an mRNA with an AUG initiation codon, and the ribosomal subunits assemble. Initiation requires GTP-hydrolyzing initiation factors. The initiating AUG codon is identified in prokaryotes via the mRNA’s Shine–Dalgarno sequence. In eukaryotes it is the mRNA’s initiating AUG that is identified in a complex process by its proximity to the mRNA’s 5′ cap.

11. A polypeptide chain is elongated from its N- to its C-terminus. An aa–tRNA in complex with a GTP-hydrolyzing elongation factor binds to the A site, where the ribosome senses correct codon–anticodon pairing, a process whose accuracy is enhanced by proofreading. The peptidyl transferase activity of the large subunit’s RNA catalyzes the attack of the A-site bound aa–tRNA’s amino group on the peptidyl–tRNA in the P site. Following transpeptidation, a second GTP-hydrolyzing elongation factor promotes the translocation of the new peptidyl–tRNA to the P site.

12.Translation termination requires release factors that recognize Stop codons.