MOLECULAR

STRUCTURE OF DNA,
RNA AND PROTEINS
Molecular Structure of DNA
and RNA
 The building blocks of any nucleic acid
are the nucleotides.
 A nucleotide is composed of a
phosphate group, a sugar portion and
an N-base. (nitrogenous base)
 The sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while
the sugar in RNA is ribose.
Molecular Structure of DNA and
RNA
 N-bases are either purines or
pyrimidines.
 Purine bases are: Adenine (A) and
Guanine (G)
 Pyrimidine bases are: Cytosine (C),
Thymine (T, in DNA only) and Uracil (U,
found only in RNA)
Specific base
pairings occur in
DNA.
A pairs with T, and
G pairs with C
Leading strand: 5’
end to 3’ end
Antiparallel
orientation
5’ TACGTATCTATA 3’
Molecular Structure of DNA and RNA

DNA is double
stranded while
RNA is single
stranded with
Uracil instead of
Thymine.
DNA
 Repository of genetic information;
sequence of bases encodes the
blueprint for the life processes.
 Has complementary base pairs, and
phosphodiester bonds.
 It allows each strand to serve as a
template for replication and
transcription.
RNA
Information in the form of base
sequence is transformed , and
(transcribed) into mRNA.
tRNA and rRNA.
PROTEINS
 WHAT ARE PROTEINS?
 Proteins are large, complex molecules
that play many critical roles in the
body.
 Made up of hundreds or thousands of
smaller units called amino acids,
which are attached to one another in
long chains.
20 different types of amino acids
that can be combined to make a
protein.
WHAT ARE PROTEINS?
 The sequence of amino acids
determines each protein’s unique 3-
dimensional structure and its specific
function.
 Functional products of genes
 Executes cellular functions
Functions of Protein:
Antibody, enzyme, messenger,
structural component,
transport/storage.
The structural levels of protein
are:
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
DNA Replication
and Protein
Synthesis
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
DNA REPLICATION?
 Primary purpose: store information
 Tomake sure that the genetic material which is
found in the coding on the DNA can be passed
from original cell to the next that lead to the
transferring of traits.
 Beforea cell divides, it needs to double the
number of chromosomes (containing
genes/traits, codons/ protein codes)
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
DNA REPLICATION?
 Secondary purpose: synthesis of
RNA
 DNA direct the synthesis of RNA under
a chemical process known as
transcription.
 The cellular enzymes are directed by
the genetic code to recreate strands of
RNA in relation to the coded sequence
stored in the DNA molecule.
The Central Dogma of
Biology
 Describes the flow of information
from gene sequence to protein
product.
 describes the two-step process,
transcription and translation, by
which the information in genes
flows into proteins:
DNA RNA Protein
DNA Replication
DNA Replication:
 DNA is semi-conservative. Each helix
that is created contains one strand from the
helix from which it was copied. Half or each
parent helix is conserved in each daughter
helix.
 DNA is semi-discontinuous. Leading
strand is synthesized continuously and the
lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously.
Leading Strand VS Lagging Strand
LEADING STRAND LAGGING STRAND
1. Synthesized in the 1. Synthesized in the
5’-3’ direction 3’-5’ direction
2. Synthesized 2. Synthesized in
continuously fragments which are
called Okazaki
fragments.
DNA Replication:
1. Bidirectional replication
2. Elongation or building new
strand is from 5’ end to 3’ end.
3.Reads the parent strand 3’-5’
DNA Replication: Bidirectional

1.Initiation: DNA helicase

2.Priming: RNA primase
3.Polymerization: DNA
polymerase
4.Termination: DNA ligase
1. Initiation :DNA helicase
 Separates double-stranded DNA into single strands allowing
each strand to be copied.
 Helicases unwind and unzip DNA forming a structure called the
replication fork, which is named for the forked
appearance of the two strands of DNA as they unzipped apart.
2. Priming: RNA primase
 Functions by synthesizing short RNA
sequence (primer) that are complementary
to a single-stranded piece of DNA, which
serves as its template.
2. Priming: RNA primase
 Primer: a short single strand of RNA that
serves as a starting point for DNA sythesis. It
is required for DNA replication because the
DNA polymerases, can only add new
nucleotides to an existing strand of DNA.
3. Polymerization: DNA polymerase
 To make DNA from nucleotides.
Termination: DNA ligase

 An enzyme that repairs

irregularities, remove primers, and
connects Okazaki fragments.
Protein Synthesis
Protein
Synthesis
DNA as genetic code:
1.Tripletcode
2.Universal code
Protein Synthesis
1. Initiation: DNA helicase
2. Transcription: RNA polymerase (enzyme for
transcription)
3. Translation: Ribosomes, mRNA, tRNA molecules
4. Elongation
5. Termination