In RNA, the backbone is formed of a slightly different sugar from that of DNA— ribose instead of deoxyribose—and one of the four bases is slightly different—uracil (U) in place of thymine (T). But the other three bases—A, C, and G—are the same, and all four bases pair with their complementary counterparts in DNA—the A, U, C, and G of RNA with the T, A, G, and C of DNA. During transcription, the RNA monomers are lined up and selected for polymerization on a template strand of DNA, just as DNA monomers are selected during replication. The outcome is a polymer molecule whose sequence of nucleotides faithfully represents a portion of the cell’s genetic information, even though it is written in a slightly different alphabet—consisting of RNA monomers instead of DNA monomers.
The same segment of DNA can be used repeatedly to guide the synthesis of many identical RNA molecules. Thus, whereas the cell’s archive of genetic information in the form of DNA is fixed and sacrosanct, these RNA transcripts are
Figure 1–3 The copying of genetic information by DNA replication. In this process, the two strands of a dnA double helix are pulled apart, and each serves as a template for synthesis of a new complementary strand.
Figure 1–4 From DNA to protein.
Genetic information is read out and put to use through a two-step process. First, in transcription, segments of the dnA sequence are used to guide the synthesis of molecules of RnA. Then, in translation, the RnA molecules are used to guide the synthesis of molecules of protein.
strand used as a template to direct RNA synthesis many identical RNA transcripts mass-produced and disposable (Figure 1–5). As we shall see, these transcripts function as intermediates in the transfer of genetic information. Most notably, they serve as messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that guide the synthesis of proteins according to the genetic instructions stored in the DNA.
RNA molecules have distinctive structures that can also give them other specialized chemical capabilities. Being single-stranded, their backbone is flexible, so that the polymer chain can bend back on itself to allow one part of the molecule to form weak bonds with another part of the same molecule. This occurs when segments of the sequence are locally complementary: a ...GGGG... segment, for example, will tend to associate with a ...CCCC... segment. These types of internal associations can cause an RNA chain to fold up into a specific shape that is dictated by its sequence (Figure 1–6). The shape of the RNA molecule, in turn, may enable it to recognize other molecules by binding to them selectively—and even, in certain cases, to catalyze chemical changes in the molecules that are bound. In fact, some chemical reactions catalyzed by RNA molecules are crucial for several of the most ancient and fundamental processes in living cells, and it has been suggested that an extensive catalysis by RNA played a central part in the early evolution of life (discussed in Chapter 6).
All cells use Proteins as catalysts
Protein molecules, like DNA and RNA molecules, are long unbranched polymer chains, formed by stringing together monomeric building blocks drawn from a standard repertoire that is the same for all living cells. Like DNA and RNA, proteins carry information in the form of a linear sequence of symbols, in the same way as a human message written in an alphabetic script. There are many different protein molecules in each cell, and—leaving out the water—they form most of the cell’s mass.
Figure 1–5 How genetic information is broadcast for use inside the cell.
each cell contains a fixed set of dnA molecules—its archive of genetic information. A given segment of this dnA guides the synthesis of many identical RnA transcripts, which serve as working copies of the information stored in the archive. many different sets of RnA molecules can be made by transcribing different parts of a cell’s dnA sequences, allowing different types of cells to use the same information store differently.