PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

DNA
↓ Transcription
RNA
↓ Translation
PROTEIN
(The central Dogma)
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
•Describe the genetic code and explain why it is considered almost
universal
•Explain the process of translation and the functions of the molecular
machinery of translation
•Compare translation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes
 Basics

• What are Proteins

• What are proteins made of?

• What are the structures of protein?

• What are the functions of proteins?

• HOW ARE PROTEINS PRODUCED?

Protein Structure
 Functions of Proteins
• Growth and Maintenance – build and repair
• Causes Biochemical Reactions – enzymes (digestion, clotting etc
• Acts as a Messenger - hormones
• Provides Structure – keratin, collagen, elastin
• Maintains Proper pH – (pH of mouth, stomach, blood etc)
• Balances Fluids – eg. Albumin/globulin retains water
• Bolsters Immune Health – antibodies, immunoglobulins
• Transports and Stores Nutrients – haemoglobin, ferritin, casein
Protein Synthesis

• Consists of two (2) stages

- Transcription (DNA to RNA
- Translation (RNA to Protein)

• In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the NUCLEUS

• DNA is used as a template to make messenger RNA (mRNA)
• mRNA leaves the nucleus to a RIBOSOME in the cytoplasm
• Translation then occurs in the cytoplasm
• During translation, the genetic code in mRNA is used to make a
polypeptide (protein).
Transcription
• Transcription begins when the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a region of a gene called
the promoter sequence

• DNA to unwind so the enzyme can “read” the bases of DNA.

• The strand used as a template is the template /antisense

• The sequence of bases on the opposite strand of DNA is called the non-coding or sense
strand.

• RNA polymerase moves along the DNA, adding RNA nucleotides to the growing mRNA
strand.

• The complete mRNA strand detaches from DNA.

Transcription
before Translation (in eukaryotes)
 Pre MRNA processing

• SPLICING – removes introns from the mRNA

- Introns are non-coding regions of mRNA/ Exons are coding regions

• 5’ CAPPING – adds a methylated head to the mRNA

- To protect mRNA from breaking down and helps ribosome to bind to it

• POLYADENYLATION – adds a tail (adenine bases) to the mRNA

- Signals the end of mRNA
- Help transport mRNA to cytoplasm
- protects mRNA from enzymes breakdown.
Translation

• occurs at the ribosome, which consists of rRNA and proteins

• the instructions in mRNA are read, and tRNA brings the correct sequence of
amino acids to the ribosome.

• Then, rRNA helps bonds form between the amino acids, producing a polypeptide
chain.

• After a polypeptide chain is synthesized, it may undergo additional processing to

form the finished protein

- it may assume a folded shape due to interactions between its amino acids
- It may bind with lipids/carbohydrates
- Many proteins travel to the GOLGI apparatus to be modified
Translation
THE GENETIC CODE

• A protein sequence consists of 20 commonly occurring amino acids

• Each amino acid is defined within the mRNA by a triplet of nucleotides
called a codon
• The relationship between an mRNA codon and its corresponding amino acid
is called the genetic code.
• The three-nucleotide code means that there is a total of 64 possible
combinations
• A given amino acid is encoded by more than one codon
• This redundancy in the genetic code is called degeneracy.
• 61 of the 64 possible triplets code for amino acids,
• 3 of the 64 codons do not code for an amino
• These are called stop codons or nonsense codons
• AUG serves start codon to initiate translation.
The genetic code
comparison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oefAI2x2CQM&feature=youtu.be

https://openstax.org/books/microbiology/pages/11-4-protein-synthesis-tr
anslation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zAGAmTkZNY&feature=youtu.b
e
Qtns

1. Relate protein synthesis and its two major phases to the central dogma of molecular
biology.

2. Explain how mRNA is processed before it leaves the nucleus.

3. What additional processes might a polypeptide chain undergo after it is synthesized?

4. Where does transcription take place in eukaryotes?

5. Where does translation take place?

6. Introns in mRNA bind to tRNA at the ribosome. True/False.

7. tRNAs can be thought of as the link between amino acids and codons in the
mRNA. T/F
Fill in the missing words

• DNA is copied onto a strand of mRNA during a process

called …..
• The code on mRNA is "read" and used to create a protein
during a process called …….
• This process is further broken down into three stages;
In….. the ribosome, mRNA and first tRNA all associate.
• In ….. amino acids are brought to the ribosome by tRNA and
are added to the growing protein.
• In….. a stop codon is reached, and the complex dissociates
and released the newly formed protein.
 Qtns

• Match the these words (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) to the statement

below:
- contains codons.
- contains anticodons.
- makes up the ribosome along with proteins.

• If a sequence of DNA on the template strand reads CAG TAC,

then then match it correctly: (GTC ATG, GUC AUG, CAG UAC,)
- non template strand will read
- mRNA codons will read
- the tRNA anticodons matching the mRNA will read