Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Lesson Overview
13.2 Ribosomes and Protein
Synthesis

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

13.2 Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

I CAN:
1.Explain how the genetic code is read.
2.Distinguish between a codon and an
anticodon.
3.Use an amino acid table to translate the
genetic code from mRNA into an amino
acid sequence.
4.Explain the steps in the process of
translation.

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Lesson Overview

From DNA to Protein

Gene 1
Gene 3
DNA molecule
Gene 2

DNA strand

TRANSCRIPTION

RNA

TRANSLATION

Codon

Polypeptide
Amino acid

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

The Genetic Code

The words of the DNA code are triplets of
bases called codons.
The codons in a gene specify the amino acid
sequence of the polypeptide chain.

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

The Genetic Code

Proteins are made by joining amino acids
together into long chains, called polypeptides.
As many as 20 different amino acids are
commonly found in polypeptides.

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

How to Read Codons

There are 64 possible three-base
codons in the genetic code.
(4 4 4 = 64)

To read a codon, start

at the middle of the
circle and move
outward.

Ribosomes
and the
Protein
Synthesis
Lesson Overview
Virtually
all organisms
share
same
genetic
code.
Second Base
C

UUU
UUC
UUA
UUG

CUU
CUC
CUA
CUG

AUU
AUC
ile
AUA
AUG met (start)

ACU
ACC
ACA
ACG

GUU
GUC
GUA
GUG

GCU
GCC
GCA
GCG

phe
leu

leu

val

UCU
UCC
UCA
UCG
CCU
CCC
CCA
CCG

A
ser

UAU
UAC
UAA
UAG

pro

CAU
CAC
CAA
CAG

thr

AAU
AAC
AAA
AAG

ala

GAU
GAC
GAA
GAG

G
tyr
stop
stop
his
gln
asn
lys
asp
glu

UGU
UGC
UGA
UGG
CGU
CGC
CGA
CGG
AGU
AGC
AGA
AGG
GGU
GGC
GGA
GGG

cys
stop
trp
arg

ser
arg

gly

U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G

Third Base

First Base

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

How to Read Codons

Most amino acids can be
specified by more than one
codon.

For example:
Leucine:

Threonine:

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Start and Stop Codons

The methionine codon AUG
serves as the initiation, or
start,codon for protein
synthesis.

Following the start codon, mRNA is

read, three bases at a time, until it
reaches one of three different stop
codons, which end translation.
The three stop codons are: UGA, UAA, UAG,

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

An exercise in translating the genetic code

Transcribed strand

DNA

Transcription

RNA

Translation

Polypeptide

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Translation
The sequence of nucleotide bases in an mRNA
molecule is a set of instructions that gives the
order in which amino acids should be joined to
produce a polypeptide.
Ribosomes use the sequence of codons in mRNA
to assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains.
Translation is the process of decoding the mRNA
message into a protein/polypeptide chain.

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Transfer RNA molecules serve as

interpreters during translation
In the cytoplasm, a
ribosome attaches
to the mRNA and
translates its
message into a
polypeptide
The process is
aided by transfer
RNAs

Amino acid attachment site

Hydrogen bond

RNA polynucleotide chain

Anticodon
Figure 10.11A

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Each tRNA molecule has a triplet

anticodon on one end and an amino acid
attachment site on the other
Amino acid
attachment
site

Anticodon
Figure 10.11B, C

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Steps in Translation
Translation begins when a ribosome attaches to
an mRNA molecule in the cytoplasm.

As the ribosome reads each

codon of mRNA, it directs
tRNA to bring the specified
amino acid into the ribosome.
One at a time, the ribosome
then attaches each amino acid
to the growing chain.

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Steps in Translation
1. The mRNA moves
through the ribosome
one codon at a time.
2. The tRNA pairs with
each codon, adding an
amino acid to the
growing polypeptide
chain.
3. A STOP codon causes
the ribosome to release
the mRNA.

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes build polypeptides

Next amino acid

to be added to
polypeptide

Growing
polypeptide
tRNA
molecules

P site

A site
Growing
polypeptide

Large
subunit

tRNA

P
mRNA
binding
site

mRNA

Codons

mRNA

Small
subunit

Figure 10.12A-C

Lesson Overview

Ribosomes and Protein Synthesis

The Molecular Basis of Heredity

One of the most interesting discoveries of molecular
biology is the near-universal nature of the genetic
code.
Although some organisms show slight variations in the
amino acids assigned to particular codons, the code is
always read three bases at a time and in the same
direction.
Despite their enormous diversity in form and function,
living organisms display remarkable unity at lifes most
basic level, the molecular biology of the gene.