PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION

What is a Protein?
A molecule composed of polymers of amino acids joined
together by peptide bonds. It can be distinguished from
fats and carbohydrates by containing nitrogen.
Why do we need it?

Cell structure
- 80% of a cell
Cell processes
- Hormones
- Enzymes
- Antibodies
- Neurotransmitters

Transcription (writing the message)

- Is the synthesis of RNA under the direction
of DNA
- Occurs in the nucleus
Translation (reading the message)
- Is the actual synthesis of a polypeptide,
which occurs under the direction of mRNA
- Occurs on ribosomes

In prokaryotes transcription and translation occur

together. In a eukaryotic cell the nuclear envelope
separates transcription from translation. Extensive RNA
processing occurs in the nucleus.
Transcription

What do we need for Protein Synthesis?

Three stages of transcription:
1. DNA
-

It contains all your hereditary information in

the form of genes.
A gene is a coded section of DNA; it tells our
cells how to build specific proteins.
Genes code for EVERYTHING our body
needs and does.
Because DNA is so large, it is stuck inside
the nucleus.
It needs a messenger to move the
information from nucleus to protein
production locations.

2. RNA
Three types of RNA:

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

- copies DNA in the nucleus and carries
the info to the ribosomes (in cytoplasm)
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
- makes up a large part of the ribosome;
reads and decodes mRNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
- carries amino acids to the ribosome
where they are joined to form proteins

1. Initiation
- Is the attachment of RNA polymerase to the
promoter and the start of RNA synthesis
- Promoter
o A nucleotide sequence which that
signals the start of transcribing
o A specific place where RNA
polymerase attaches
o Dictates which of the two DNA
strands is to be transcribed
- RNA Polymerase
o An enzyme that binds to the DNA
and separate the strands
o It then uses one strand of DNA as a
template to assemble nucleotides
into RNA

3. Ribosome
- Reads mRNA
- Directs tRNA
- Creates peptide bonds between amino acids
(making polypeptide chains)
4. Amino Acids
- Building blocks of proteins
- 20 different amino acids exist (9 are
considered essential AA)
- Order of amino acids matter. It determines
the function of a specific protein.

2. Elongation
- RNA grows longer
3. Termination
- RNA reaches a terminator and detaches
from the RNA molecule and the gen
- Terminator

A special sequence of bases in the

DNA that signals the end of the
gene

Other processes:

Capping and Tailing

- Extra nucleotides are added to the ends of
the RNA transcript, the cap (guanine
triphosphate cap) and the tail (poly A tail)
- Protect the RNA from attack by cellular
enzymes and help ribosomes recognize
RNA as mRNA

RNA Splicing
- 2 regions of RNA transcript
o Intron noncoding region
o Exon coding region
- A process where introns are removed and
exons are joined (by the enzyme Ligase) to
produce an mRNA molecule with a
continuous coding sequence

3. Ribosome moves down mRNA to next codon

4. tRNA anticodon brings & attaches next AA with
peptide bond Translation

5. tRNA leaves ribosome once AA attached tRNA mRNA

AA Protein chain Translation

6. Steps 1-5 repeated, adding AAs until STOP CODON *

signals end of protein
7. Polypeptide chain released from ribosome * UAG,
UAA, or UGA

Translation
- Translation occurs in ribosomes (in cytoplasm)
- All three types of RNA work together during
translation to produce proteins
Steps of Translation
1. mRNA moves to cytoplasm, binds to ribosome
2. tRNA anticodon UAC brings AA (methionine) to mRNA
codon
on
ribosome
Translation

Note:
Methionine always starts sequence/ stop happens when
no
amino
acid
is
brought
with
tRNA
and
peptide
bonds
stop
After Translation
polypeptides move away from mRNA to Golgi Bodycombines with fats/ mineral/ carbs/ vitamins to make
complex protein
mRNA is chopped by enzymes and goes back to
nucleus as free floating enzymes