Simulating Protein Synthesis- Build a CHNOPS Monster

Name: ______Date: ______Period: ______

Simulating Protein Synthesis- build a CHNOPS monster.

Genes are sequences of DNA nucleotides that determine what proteins are built. Proteins, in turn, give organisms their traits such as hair color and height. Triplets of DNA code for a polypeptide- a sequence of amino acids. Once a polypeptide has been folded into shape, and sometimes joined with other polypeptides, we call it a protein.

During transcription inside the nucleus, a DNA nucleotide sequence is copied into RNA nucleotides. The mRNA that is built from the gene leaves the nucleus and carries the information to a ribosome, where the actual polypeptide is built. Some ribosomes are found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and some are found free in the cytoplasm.

The genetic code consists of “words” that are three nucleotides long. On DNA, this is called a triplet. (For example, the sequence GAT TAC contains two triplets.) The RNA complements, found on the mRNA, would be CUA AUG, are called codons. Each set of three nucleotides is translated at the ribosome into one amino acid.

Translating is done by transfer RNA (tRNA). Transfer RNA molecules float around the cytoplasm. Each one has a particular anticodon, a three-nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the mRNA codon, on one end. Because nucleotide complements stick to each other, the correct version of tRNA will stick once the ribosome displays an mRNA codon. For example, if the codon on the mRNA is AUC, the tRNA that sticks to it will have an anticodon that reads UAG. On its other side, the tRNA will carry the amino acid that corresponds to the mRNA codon. In this way, only the correct tRNA molecules will stick to the mRNA at the ribosome, and only the correct amino acid sequence will be built.

Molecular geneticists deal only with the RNA codons. Even though we know that the tRNAs have anticodons, it is not necessary to convert codons to anticodons. Instead, codon charts go directly from the mRNA codon to the corresponding amino acids.

History of the CHNOPS monster

Life has been found on another planet! Like life on earth, it is based on the elements CHNOPS. Like earth, genes are made of DNA. Animals found on this planet have been named Chnops. The Chnops have one chromosome, with nine genes along its length. Each of the nine proteins made from these genes creates a different trait in the animal. A recent expedition to this planet has returned with biological samples of Chnops saliva. Your laboratory assistants have sequenced the samples so you don’t have to touch them. You have the job of decoding the sequences and predicting the appearance of the Chnops creature they came from.

Make a poster of your Chnops. (Please keep your monsters “G-rated.” For example, males may be wearing a tie or females may have bows in the hair.)

Directions on how to make the monster:

1.  To determine the trait for Gene 1 for your alien, fill in the information in the box labeled “Gene 1” in your Data Table. Notice the sequence of nucleotides along the DNA. You should write in the sequence of RNA nucleotides that would be found on the mRNA transcribed from the gene.

2.  Match each mRNA codon with the specific amino acid it codes for using Reference Table 1. These are alien amino acids. Instead of familiar names like leucine or methionine, they have symbols that represent their shapes. Write the symbols, in order, separated by hyphens, in your data table. There may be anywhere from two to four amino acid symbols in each protein.

3.  Use Reference Table 2 to find the trait that will result from the amino acid sequence. Do this by finding the sequence you have (which is the protein) and matching it to the trait the protein creates in the alien. Record the alien’s trait for Gene 1 in the data table.

4.  Repeat for the remaining genes, 2 through 9.

5.  Incorporating all traits, sketch your alien on a blank piece of paper. Then answer all the analysis questions.

Reference Table 1: mRNA codons and the corresponding amino acids

mRNA codon /

Amino Acid Type

/

mRNA codon

/

Amino Acid Type

ACC / 6 / UUU / N
AGC / v / GGU / L
CGA / R / UAU / S
AAC / z / CCC / q
CGC / J / AUC / I
GGG / $ / CUA / T
AGG / O / GGA / -
AAA / ' / UAG / "
CGG / Y / UUA /
GAG / x / UGG /
UGA / s / UUC / á
ACA / ê / CUC / Ñ

Reference Table 2: Amino acid sequences and the traits they produce in CHNOPS

Amino Acid Sequence / Trait / Amino Acid Sequence / Trait
6-S /

Forked tongue

/ T z L / Big feet
6LS / Hairy / T z S / Hooves
6qq / Plump body / z N N / 2 eyes
S Tv / Skinny body / z N' / 1 eye
vR / 4 legs / v q O / Pointy Ears
LO'q / Long nose / vRO / Round ears
$O'q / Short nose / Nq / Scales
N' / Mullet / -I$O / Antennae
N z / Freckles / 'RS / Wings
-JR / Blue skin / $$Nq / Pointy tail
$R / Gills / ázê / Pig nose
-JJ / Orange skin / qqJ / Eye brows
I I T / Male / RR'I / Eye lashes
sR / Belly button / Ñáv / Bird beak
I I S / Female / R'NT / Lips
I z L / Horns / I z S / Hairy mole
-Jq / Pink spots / "qO / Spikes
R-J / 1 arm / q-O' / 2 arms
IqJ / Rainbow skin / $'v / 2 fingers
-Ss / Buck teeth / TNRJ / Mouth
xY' / Uni-brow / "J / Ear hair
êsê / Cross eyed / sO / Fish tail
LTv / Mohawk / O / Side burns
vqR' / Red-striped skin / TNR / Mustache
Y / Goatee / qqq / Fangs
Ñá / 3 heads / JÑáq / Tentacles
sá / Fire breathing / xÑ" / 10 eyes

Analysis Questions

1. Explain the difference between translation and transcription.

1. Where in the cell does transcription occur?

1. Where in the cell does translation occur?

1. How many RNA nucleotides are necessary to specify one amino acid?

1. Your lab receives some new samples of CHNOPS saliva. One of the genes has 30 DNA nucleotides in it. How many amino acid monomers will be present in the completed polypeptide?

1. Your lab has received a piece of carefully preserved alien CHNOPS flesh. From this flesh sample, you isolate a protein. How could you find out the sequence of the gene that coded for this protein?

7. Create two additional traits for your CHNOPS and give the initial DNA sequence, mRNA codon, and resulting amino acid sequence. Add these traits to your picture.

Trait is:

/

DNA is

/

mRNA is

/

Amino acid sequence is

Data Table J

Gene 1DNA: TAG TAG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: CCC CCC AAA GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: TCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: CCC TCC TTT GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: TGG GGG GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: TGG CCA ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: TCG GGG TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: TTG AAA AAA
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: GGG GGG GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table I

Gene 1DNA: TGG CCA ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: TAG TAG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: AAT ACT TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: TAG TTG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: GAT AAA GCT GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: GGG GGG GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: ATA GAT TCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: CCT TAG CCC TCC
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: TTG AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table A

Gene 1DNA: TGG CCA ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: TAG GGG GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: CCA TCC TTT GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: ATA GAT TCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: TCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: TAG TAG GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: CCC CCC AAA GGG
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: TTG AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table B

Gene 1DNA: TTG AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: CCT GCG GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: CCA TCC TTT GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: ATA GAT TCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: TCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: TAG TAG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: AAA GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: GCT GCT TTT TAG
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: CCT TAG CCC TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table C

Gene 1DNA: AAA GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: CCT GCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: TAG TAG GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: GCT TTT AAA GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: ATC GGG TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: TTT GCT ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: TGG GGG GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: CCA TCC TTT GGG
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: TCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table D

Gene 1DNA: TAG TAG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: CCC CCC AAA GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: ATA GAT TCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: TGG CCA ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: CCT TAG CCC TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: TTG AAA AAA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: GGG GGG GCG
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: CCT GCG GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table F

Gene 1DNA: TAG TAG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: TGG CCA ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: CCT GCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: TTT GCT ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: AAA GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: TTG AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: CCT TAG CCC TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: TCG GCT
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: TAG TTG CCA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table E

Gene 1DNA: TAG TTG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: TCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: TGG GGG GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: TAG TAG GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: CCC TCC TTT GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: TCG GCT TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: TTG AAA TTT
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: GCT GCT TTT TAG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table G

Gene 1DNA: CCT GCG GCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: TAG TAG GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: CCC CCC AAA GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: CCA TCC TTT GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: TGG CCA ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: TGG GGG GGG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: GCT TTT AAA GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: TTT GCT ATA
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: TCG GGG TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table H

Gene 1DNA: TAG TTG ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 2DNA: TAG TAG GAT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 3DNA: TTT GCT ATA
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 4DNA: TCG GCT TCC
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 5DNA: CCT GCG GCT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______/ Gene 6DNA: ATA GAT TCG
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______
Gene 7DNA: AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 8DNA: CCC TCC TTT GGG
RNA:______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait:______/ Gene 9DNA: TTG AAA TTT
RNA: ______
Amino Acid Sequence:
Trait: ______

Data Table K