Module 3 Instructor Resources

Lesson Plan

Title

• Transcription Part II: What happens to the initial (pre-mRNA) transcript made by RNA pol II?

Objectives

• Explain how the transcript generated by RNA polymerase II (the pre-mRNA) is processed to become mature mRNA, using the sequence signals identified in Module 2.
• Use the genome browser to analyze the relationships among:
  1. pre-mRNA
  2. 5’ capping
  3. 3’ polyadenylation
  4. Splicing
  5. mRNA

Pre-requisites

• Module 1 and Module 2
• Define pre-mRNA as the RNA that results from the process of transcription; this initial transcript includes exons and introns

Order

• Warm Up Discussion
• Investigation

Homework

• None

Class Instruction

• Discuss the question: What happens to the initial (pre-mRNA) transcript made by RNA pol II? Does it leave the nucleus “as is”? Or do changes have to occur? (Hint: introns vs. exons) (Discuss with a partner then as a class).
• Mini-presentation illustrating that during pre-mRNA processing, three events occur:
  1. 5’ capping
  2. 3’ polyadenylation
  3. Splicing out of introns
• Work through the genome browser investigation, with pauses to discuss the answers to the questions.
• Conclude with emphasis on main points
• Pre-mRNA is processed using 3 steps:
  1. 5’ capping
  2. 3’ polyadenylation
  3. Removal of introns through splicing (via spliceosome)