Transfer RNA
-relatively small non-coding RNA, single stranded, approx 73-93 nucleotide residues long
tRNA amino acid arm
tRNA anticodon arm
- 3 nucleotide sequence that base pairs complementary to the mRNA
tRNA nomenclature
- Charged: Leu-tRNA^Leu
“charging” of tRNA
Wobble base pairing
Inosine
Crick’s rules of wobble hypothesis
Ribosome
Ribosome subunits
Svedberg Units
- rate of sedimentation under a specific G force
Ribosomal functional centers
Steps of translation (without termination)
Initiation of translation
tRNAs specific for Methionine
Charging of tRNA^fMet
-2 step process:
-Met-tRNA synthetase charges both tRNA^Met and tRNA^fMet
-transformylase adds formyl group to Met, prevents charged tRNA from participating in elongation
Equivalent system in eukaryotes:
-tRNA^Met vs. tRNAi^Met
-tRNAi^Met interacts with eukaryotic equivalent of IF-2
Shine-Dalgarno sequence
Kozak Sequences
Kozak vs. Shine-Dalgarno
Polycistrinsic mRNA
Overlapping Genes
Non-Overlapping genes
- genes have separate Shine-Dalgarno sequences
GTP
- guanosine triphosphate
mRNA circularization