Chapter 7 Genetic code.ppt

密码子的破译 遗传密码的破译是六十年代分子生物学最辉煌的成就。 密码子的破译 ①在体外无细胞蛋白合成体系中加入人工合成的polyU 1961, Nirenberg, Matthaei Hydrogen bonds: Base pairing between residues in the D-and T-arms fold the tRNA molecule over into an L-shape, with the anticodon at one end and the amino acid acceptor site at the other. The base pairing is strengthened by base stacking interactions. tRNA function When charged by attachment of a specific amino acid to their 3’-end to become aminoacyl-tRNAs, tRNA molecules act as adaptor molecules in protein synthesis. Aminoacylation of tRNAs Reaction step: First, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase attaches AMP to the-COOH group of the amino acid utilizing ATP to create an aminoacyl adenylate intermediate. Then, the appropriate tRNA displaces the AMP. Nomenclature of tRNA-synthetases and charged tRNAs catalyze amino acid-tRNA joining reaction which is extremely specific. Amino acid: serine Cognate tRNA: tRNAser Cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase: seryl-tRNA synthetase Aminoacyl-tRNA: seryl-tRNAser Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases The synthetase enzymes are either monomers, dimers or one of two types of tetramer.They contact their cognate tRNA by the inside of its L-shape and use certain parts of the tRNA, called identity elements, to distinguish these similar molecules from one another. Proofreading Proofreading occurs at step 2 when a synthetase carries out step 1 of the aminoacylation reaction with the wrong, but chemically similar, amino acid. Synthetase will not attach the aminoacyl adenylate to the cognate tRNA, but hydrolyze the aminoacyl adenylate instead. Fig（1）Modified nucleosides in tRNA fig 3 tRNA tertiary structure Fig 4 Identity elements in various tRNA molecules Identity element: They are particular parts of the tRNA molecules.These are not always the anticodon sequence,but base pair in the acceptor stem.If these are swapped between tRNAs then the synthetases enzymes can be tricked into adding the amino acid to the wrong tRNA P1 The genetic code Univers