Protein Synthesis

1. DNA contains the

information necessary to
produce proteins.

2. Transcription of DNA
results in mRNA, which is a
copy of the information in
DNA needed to make a
protein.
3. The mRNA leaves the nucleus
and goes to a ribosome.

4. Amino Acids, the building
blocks of proteins, are carried to
the ribosome by tRNAs.

5. In the process of translation,
the information contained in
mRNA is used to determine the
number, kinds and arrangement
of amino acids in the protein.
tRNA
Specialized transport
molecules called transfer
RNA carry the amino acids
to the ribosome.
The mRNA molecule
contains the information
required to determine the
sequence of amino acids in
a protein.

The information is called
the genetic code and is
carried in groups of three
nucleotides called codons.
The number and sequence
of codons in the mRNA are
determined by the number
and sequence of sets of
three nucleotides, called
triplets, in the segments of
DNA that were transcribed.
FOR EXAMPLE
The triplet code of CTA in DNA
results in the codon GAU in
mRNA, which codes for aspartic
acid.

Each codon codes for a specific
amino acid.

64 possible mRNA codons exist,
but only 20 amino acids are in
proteins. As a result, the genetic
code is redundant because more
than one codon codes for some
amino acids.
Redundancy
For example: CGA, CGG, CGT and
CGC all code for the amino acid
alanin

UUU and UAC both code for
phenylalanine.

Some codons do not code for AA
but perform other functions. For
example: AUG and sometimes
GUG act as signals for starting the
transcription of a stretch of DNA
to RNA.
Three codons UAA, UGA
and UAG act as signals for
stopping the transcription
of DNA to RNA.