Question

Given the DNA template strand 3\' AACAGACAG 5\', write the amino acid sequence in the N-terminal to C-terminal direction. Use the three-letter amino acid abbreviations (for example, Glu-Asp-Val).

Answer 1

Answer: The amino acid sequence is Leu-Ser-Val

Explanation: To produce amino acids, the DNA has to "transform" itself into a RNA by a process called Transcription. In this process, part of the DNA is transcribed into a similar RNA. The RNA produced undergoes another process, called Translation. From it, the sequence is decoded to a specific polypetide, as shown in this case. In the Translation, each 3 bases corresnpond to 1 amino acid. Because of it, the sequence above has 3 amino acids.

The N-terminal and C-terminal relates to the part where the sequence start to be read and the end of the process. Normally, the sequence starts at the 5', which correspond to the N-terminal and finishes at the 3', which matches the C-terminal. So in this example, the DNA template read 5\'GACAGACAA 3\'.