DNA Translation – the process of protein synthesis in which genetic information encoded in mRNA

is translated into a sequence of amino acids on a polypeptide chain

The information of in the mRNA sequence is read degeneracy of the code - Most of the amino acids
three by three, these are known as codons are coded for by more than one codon
Codons (mRNA): triplets of bases which correspond Universality – all organisms use the same genetic
to a particular amino acid code
Anticodons (tRNA): complementary to codons
Start codon: AUG (makes methionine amino)
A coding sequence is terminated with a stop codon:
UAA, UAG, UGA
each tRNA is covalently linked to a specific amino
acid

Ribosome
actual site for protein synthesis in all kinds of cells
Made of tRNA and proteins
Has 2 subunits
Large – 60S
Small – 40s
Together they form the complete 80S ribosome
- When the process of translation begins, the
two units are not united, they unite as the
process takes place
In every organism the ribosome takes part in protein
synthesis, it only varies in size
tRNA
specialized RNA molecule that carries the amino
acid at one end and has an anticodon (3 nucleotides)
at the other end
- Small RNA molecule (75-90 nucleotides long)
- It contains a series of inverted sequences
that allows folding of the linear RNA molecule
in a cloverleaf configuration
The anticodon of a tRNA can basepair (unite) with a
mRNA’s codon

PEPTIDYL TRANSFERASE (enzyme) (inside the

ribosome), makes the peptide bonds in every amino
acid

Initiation – the protein synthesis is initiated

1. The small ribosomal subunits binds to the
mRNA and starts the process when it finds the
start codon, and the initiation tRNA binds to the
mRNA by the anticodon
2. The large ribosomal subunit joins to complete
the ribosome and the translation initiation
complex
Elongation – the polypeptide chain (protein) elongates
1. The tRNA (with its amino acid) that corresponds
to the next codon (after the start codon) enters
the ribosome
- If the anticodon matches the mRNA codon
the ribosome links the two amino acids
together in a covalent bond. If not, the
anticodon is rejected.
2. The ribosome moves one triplet (codon)
forward so a new tRNA can enter the ribosome
3. This process is repeated until a stop codon is
reached
- The ribosome moves along the mRNA
sequence (5’ → 3’) and joins amino acids
together with peptide bonds (condensation
reaction)

Termination
When the ribosome reaches one of the three stop Important notes
codons A gene is a sequence of DNA which encodes a
Termination proteins bind to the ribosome and polypeptide sequence
releases the polypeptide chain • One gene = one polypeptide (proteins may have
- When the ribosome is released from the multiple polypeptides)
mRNA the large and small subunits
dissociate.
The synthesis of a polypeptide is initiated at a start
codon (AUG) and is completed when the ribosome
reaches a STOP codon