Protein Synthesis

Agree or disagree:

DNA can get out

of the nucleus.
Why would we
want genetic
information to be
able to leave the
nucleus?
What is a protein?
 Proteins
One of the four types of
macromolecules, composed of
amino acids (monomer) & have
many different functions in cells
Amino Acids
Monomer of proteins

Polymer of amino
acids is called a
polypeptide or
peptide

A protein is 1 or more
polypeptide chains
What is needed to
get DNA/genetic
information out of
the nucleus?
How is
RNA
differen
t than
DNA?
RNA vs. DNA
Types of RNA
Messenger RNA (mRNA) copies the DNAs code & carries the
genetic information to the ribosomes

Transfer RNA (tRNA) transfers amino acids to the ribosomes

where proteins are synthesized
Ribosomes
Protein factories

Part protein and part RNA

Reads mRNA

Provides a site/location for tRNA to

drop off and link together amino
acids
Protein Synthesis: From DNA to Protein
DNA
DNA mRNA tRNA Protein
Protein Synthesis
The production, or synthesis, of polypeptide chains (proteins)

Two phases:

1. Transcription
2. Translation
Stop & Think:

Whats another
analogy you could
use to describe
protein synthesis?
Transcription
The process of copying the sequence of 1 strand of DNA

Enzymes make a copy of a section of DNA = mRNA copy

What would be the
complementary RNA
strand for the
following DNA
sequence?

GCG TAT ACG

Transcription
mRNA leaves the nucleus
through nuclear pores and
goes to the ribosomes
Transcription Animation
Translation
Translation is the process of decoding the mRNA into a
polypeptide chain (protein)

Ribosomes read 3 base letter words or codons in the mRNA in

order to build proteins

1 codon = 3 mRNA nucleotides

The Genetic Code
A codon corresponds to an
anticodon which corresponds to an
amino acid.

Some codons tell the ribosome to

stop translating.

1 codon (mRNA) = 1 anticodon

(tRNA) = 1 amino acid
Codons and Anticodons
The 3 bases of an anticodon (tRNA) are complementary to the 3
bases of a codon (mRNA)

Example: Codon ACU

Anticodon UGA
Codon Decryption
What amino acid is coded for by the codon
GGG?
What amino acid is coded for by the codon
UCA?
What amino acid is coded for by the codon
CAU?
What amino acid is coded for by the codon
GCA?
Translation Animation
Protein Synthesis