Protein synthesis: the

making of proteins by the cell

With the help of RNA
So far we’ve discussed one type of
nucleic acid: DNA
• A second type of nucleic acid is RNA.

• Like DNA, RNA is made up of three

nucleotides.
1. A five carbon sugar,
2. a phosphate and
3. a nitrogenous base.
• The five carbon sugar of
RNA is called ribose.
• The phosphate group is
the same as DNA
• RNA also has four bases
except it lacks thymine.
• It has a base called
uracil instead of
thymine.
• Uracil pairs with adenine.
• U-A
In all, there are three differences between RNA
and DNA

RNA DNA
1. Ribose sugar Deoxyribose sugar

2. Uracil as a base Thymine as a base

GCAU GCAT
3. Single strand Double strand
• There are three types of RNA molecules.
• Each has a different function in making or
synthesizing proteins.
1. Messenger RNA (mRNA) – carries DNAs
message from the nucleus to the ribosome.
2.Transfer RNA (tRNA)– carries the
correct amino acids to the ribosome so
they can be added to the growing
protein chain.
3. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)– makes up
part of the ribosome.
Helps read mRNAs message and assemble
proteins.
There are two steps in protein synthesis.
1. Transcription
2. Translation
 Two steps to protein synthesis
1. Transcription – mRNA is made from the DNA
code.

• It occurs in the nucleus where the DNA is located.

• Involves DNA and mRNA
2. Translation: Protein is made by adding
amino acids to a growing peptide chain.
It occurs at the ribosome where proteins are
made.
• Involves mRNA, rRNA and tRNA.
 Making Proteins
DNA:
DNA TAC CGA TCG TGA ACT

Transcription

mRNA: AUG GCU AGC ACU UGA

Translation

Protein: Met-Ala-Ser-Thr-Stop
Protein synthesis in detail.
1. Transcription:
• mRNA is made from the DNA code in the
nucleus
• The entire DNA code is not copied.
• Just one gene segment that codes for a
specific protein
Transcription explained in steps:
1. The enzyme RNA polymerase, unwinds
DNA and guides the creation of mRNA.
2. The DNA double helix unwinds and
separates at a certain point.
• RNA polymerase uses one strand as a
template or model

Transcription animation
http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~johnson/teaching/genetics/
animations/transcription.htm
3. Nucleotides are added into a
complimentary strand of mRNA based on
the DNA code.
• DNA: AATTGGCAC
• mRNA: UUAACCGUG

4. This mRNA strand leaves then nucleus and

goes to the ribosome for translation
 TRANSCRIPTION: label the diagram
Section 12-3

Adenine (DNA and RNA)

Cystosine (DNA and RNA)
Guanine(DNA and RNA)
Thymine (DNA only)
Uracil (RNA only)

RNA
polymerase

DNA
RNA

Go to
Section:
2. Translation
• mRNA is now at the ribosome where
amino acids are added to make a long
protein chain.
• Its still based on the DNA code which
is carried by mRNA.
Translation explained in steps
1. The mRNA is read by rRNA.
• rRNA makes up the ribosome.

2. mRNA is read three bases at a time.

• Every three bases on mRNA codes for one
amino acid and is called a codon.
Codon: Three bases on mRNA that codes for
one amino acid.
3. Tranfer RNA or tRNA carries the correct
amino acid to the ribosome.
It also reads the mRNA codon with rRNA

Anticodon: three bases on tRNA that are

complimentary to mRNA
• mRNA codon: UUC
• tRNA anticodon: AAG
4. Amino acids are brought until the entire
mRNA is read.
• Each tRNA drops off one amino acid then
goes into the cytoplasm to grab another.
5. The ribosome bonds each amino acid
together using a peptide bond creating a
polypeptide.
• Eventually the stop codon is reached and
the final amino acid is added.
1. Single amino acid
2. Growing polypeptide
chain bonded with
peptide bonds
3. Transfer RNA
carrying amino acids
4. Part of mRNA
5. The ribosome is made
of rRNA and proteins.
6. Finally, the protein is shipped to the golgi
body where it is altered and shipped to
where it needs to go.
7. At its final destination, the protein will
perform the job it was created to do.
 HOW DOES RNA POLYMERASE KNOW
WHERE TO START
• mRNA has a start codon, a specific three letter
nucleotide sequence that says begin here.
• The start codon on mRNA is the three letters
AUG
• Remember how big DNA is.
• The entire molecule is not used to make mRNA.
Just a small portion.
• A stop codon tells RNA polymerase to stop
making the protein.
• Your body is made mostly of
proteins.
• Your skin pigments are
proteins.
• Part of you blood and vessels
are made of proteins.
• Your muscles, brain, enzymes,
etc are all made partly of
proteins.
• Your ribosomes are
continuously making them.
• You have thousands in each
cell of your body.
Several factors determine the differences
between all the proteins in your body.
1. the order of amino acids: you change the
order and you change the protein and its
function.
2. shape of the protein: the golgi shapes the
protein after its assembled. You change
the shape, you change the protein and
function.
Denature: The shape of a protein is changed
and it stops working.
Several things can cause a protein to denature

1. heat: each protein function at a specific

temperature.
• Heat changes the shape, therefore changes
function.
• High fevers can be dangerous to your body.
2. pH: each protein functions at a specific pH.
• Increase or decrease can damage it.
3. chemical: exposure to chemicals such as
heavy metals
• One skill you need
for the regents exam
is to create a protein
when given a DNA
code.
• You will need to use
this amino acid chart

Remember the bases

for
• DNA are GCAT
• RNA are GCAU
1. When given a DNA code, you must first
transcribe it into mRNA
• Do this by complimentary base pairing.
A-U
G-C

DNA: TACTTGAACTAA
mRNA: AUGAACUUGAUU
2. Next break the mRNA into codon or three
letters.
DNA: TACTTGAACTAA
mRNA: AUGAACUUGAUU

mRNA: AUG-AAC-UUG-AUU

This particular mRNA was broken

into four codons.
How many amino acids will this
protein be?
3. Plug the codons into the chart and find the
amino acids.
• mRNA: AUG-AAC-UUG-AUU
• Amino acid: met-asp-leu-iso
• Interactive: http://www.learner.org/interactives/dna/engineering4.html
64 POSSIBLE CODONS
 Label the diagram below
.

Go to
Section:
 Summary of protein synthesis:
• Protein synthesis takes place in 2
steps:
• Transcription and translation

1. Transcription:
• DNA unzips
• mRNA is made by complimentary
base pairing
• Happens in the nucleus.
2. Translation:
• mRNA leaves the nucleus and goes
to the ribosome.
• At the ribosome, a specific protein
is made.
• This is done by tRNA adding amino
acids to a growing chain.
• http://www.edumedia-sciences.com/en/a71-
protein-synthesis
• http://library.thinkquest.org/20465/g_DNATr
anscription.html
 Making Proteins
DNA:
DNA TAC CGA TCG TGA ACT

Transcription

mRNA: AUG GCU AGC ACU UGA

Translation

Protein: Met-Ala-Ser-Thr-Stop
GCC:

AUG:

UUU::

ACG:

CGU:

TTT:
CCC:

GCA

UUU

AUG

AGG

AAA

CGC

ATG:
• Starting with DNA, find the mRNA code,
and the amino acid sequence using one of
the charts.

• DNA: ATATTTGCCGAA
• mRNA: UAU-AAA-CGG-CUU
• tRNA: AUA-UUU-GCC-GAA
• Amino acid: Tyr-Phe-Ala-Glu
• Use mRNA in the amino acid chart
Do these on your own:
DNA: GCCATTTAACGG
mRNA:
Amino acid:

DNA: AATTCCGGATAT
mRNA:
Amino acid:
• DNA: GGCCCTATTGGG
• mRNA: _________________
• Amino acid: __________________

• DNA: TACCCCCGATTACGTACC
• mRNA: __________________________
• Amino acid:
___________________________