MCB 720: Molecular Biology

•Biotechnology terminology•Common hosts in biotechnology research

•Transcription & Translation•Prokaryotic gene organization & expression

Terminology

• Molecular biology-The study of biology on a molecular level including the structure, function, and makeup of biologically important molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins

• Recombinant DNA technology-a set of techniques for manipulating DNA, including: the identification and cloning of genes; the study of the expression of cloned genes; and the production of large quantities of gene product

• Genetic engineering-the process of transferring DNA from one organism into another that results in a genetic modification

• Biotechnology-production of goods and services using biological organisms, systems, and processes

• Molecular biotechnology-rDNA technology + biotechnology

Selected developments in the history of molecular biology/biotechnology

1944-Avery, MacLeod & McCarty determine DNA is the genetic material1953-Watson & Crick determine the structure of DNA1970-First restriction endonuclease isolated1973-Boyer & Cohen establish recombinant DNA technology1976-DNA sequencing techniques developed1980-U.S. Supreme Court rules genetically modified microorganisms can be patented1981-First DNA synthesizers sold1988-PCR method published1990-Human genome project initiated1996-Complete DNA sequence of a eukaryote (yeast) determined1997-Nuclear cloning of a mammal (a sheep named Dolly)2000-Arabidopsis genome sequenced2001-Human genome sequenced2002-Complete human gene microarrays (gene chips) available2009-FDA approves first drug produced in a genetically engineered animal (a goat)

Many scientific disciplines contribute to molecular biotechnology, which generates a

wide range of commercial products

Common host organisms usedin molecular biotechnology

• E. coli• Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)• Insect cell lines• Plant cell lines• Animal cell lines

Review protein secretion and protein targeting

• Signal peptide sequences• Consider gram negative

vs. gram positive bacteria• Consider eukaryotic cells• In eukaryotic cells, short

peptide sequences (or other modifications) tell a protein where to go

• See MCB Chapter 5-Protein sorting http://bcs.whfreeman.com/lodish5e/pages/bcs-main.asp?v=category&s=00010&n=05000&i=05010.01&o=|00510|00610|00520|00530|00540|00560|00570|00590|00600|00700|00710|00010|00020|00030|00040|00050|01000|02000|03000|04000|05000|06000|07000|08000|09000|10000|11000|&ns=0

Central Dogma of Biology

DNA RNA Proteintranscription translation

reversetranscription

DNAreplication

$$$Molecular

Biotechnology

Chemical structure of DNA & RNA

Chemical structure of dsDNA

Chemical structure of dsDNA

Prokaryotic gene expression

Prokaryotic gene expression

Regulation lac Operon.mov

• Alternatively, see:• http://www.whfreeman

.com/lodish4e/con_index.htm?99anm

In prokaryotes, RNA polymerase binds to the -10 and -35 regions of the promoter relative to

the start site of transcription (+1)

promoter operator