生物化学讲义26completeRNAMetabolism.ppt

Chapter 26 RNA Metabolism 1. How is RNA synthesized using DNA templates (transcription)? 2. How is newly synthesized primary RNA transcripts further processed to make functional RNA molecules? 3. How is RNA and DNA synthesized using RNA as template (reverse transcription); 4.What is the evolutionary implication of the structural and functional complexity of RNA molecules? 1. RNA molecules have great structural and functional diversity With structures comparable to proteins in complexity and uniqueness. Function as messengers between DNA and polypeptides (mRNA), adapters (tRNA) to match a specific amino acid with its specific genetic code carried on mRNA, and the structural and catalytic components of the protein-synthesizing ribosomes (rRNA). Stores genetic information in RNA viruses. Catalyzes the processing of primary RNA transcripts. Might have appeared before DNA during evolution. 2. DNA and RNA syntheses are similar in some aspects but different in others Similar in fundamental chemical mechanism: both are guided by a template; both have the same polarity in strand extension (5` to 3`); both use triphosphate nucleotides (dNTP or NTP). Different aspects: No primers are needed; only involves a short segment of a large DNA molecule; uses only one of the two complementary DNA strands as the template strand; no proofreading; subject to great variation (when, where and how efficient to start). 3. The multimeric RNA polymerase in E.coli has multiple functions The holoenzyme consists of five types of subunits (a2bb’? s)and its is used to synthesize all the RNA molecules in E. coli. The multiple functions include: searches for initiation sites on the DNA molecule and unwinds a short stretch of DNA (initiation); selects the correct NTP and catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds (elongation); detects termination signals for RNA synthesis (termination). 4. RNA synthesis occurs in a “moving” transcription bubble on the DNA template Only a short RNA-DNA