Protein Synthesis

Steps in Protein Synthesis: STEP 1: The first step in protein synthesis is the transcription of mRNA from a DNA gene in the nucleus. At some other prior time, the various other types of RNA have been synthesized using the appropriate DNA. The RNAs migrate from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Prior to the beginning of the protein synthesis, all of the component parts are assembled in the ribosome which is the brown/tan structure in the left graphic. 30S Subunit Ribosome - graphic 30S Subunit Ribosome - Chime in new window See Link for an overall diagram. STEP 2: Initiation: In the cytoplasm, protein synthesis is actually initiated by the AUG codon on mRNA. The AUG codon signals both the interaction of the ribosome with m-RNA and also the tRNA with the anticodons (UAC). The tRNA which initiates the protein synthesis has N-formyl-methionine attached. The formyl group is really formic acid converted to an amide using the -NH2 group on methionine (left most graphic) The next step is for a second tRNA to approach the mRNA (codon - CCG). This is the code for proline. The anticodon of the proline tRNA which reads this is GGC. The final process is to start growing peptide chain by having amine of proline to bond to the carboxyl acid group of methinone (met) in order to elongate the peptide. Quiz: The next codon is UAU. What is the next amino acid to be added?
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The other graphic on the left shows this process at the molecular level.

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STEP 3: Elongation: Elongation of the peptide begins as various tRNA's read the next codon. In the example on the left the next tRNA to read the mRNA is tyrosine. When the correct match with the anticodons of a tRNA has been found, the tyrosine forms a peptide bond with the growing peptide chain . The proline is now hydrolyzed from the tRNA. The proline tRNA now moves away from the ribosome and back into the cytoplasm to reattach another proline amino acid. Quiz: The next codon is GCU. What is the next amino acid to be added? Genetic Code What is the anticodon on this next tRNA? What does the code, UAA, on m-RNA say to do?

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Click for larger image Step 4: Elongation and Termination: When the stop signal on mRNA is reached, the protein synthesis is terminated. The last amino acid is hydrolyzed from its t-RNA. The peptide chain leaves the ribosome. The N-formyl-methionine that was used to initiate the protein synthesis is also hydrolyzed from the completed peptide at this time. The ribosome is now ready to repeat the synthesis several more times.

What is protein synthesis?

Protein synthesis is the transcription and translation of specific parts of DNA to form proteins. The following is a brief overview of how a gene (a section of the DNA molecule) serves as a template for the synthesis of a protein. The process can be split into two phases. Transcription occurs first, followed by translation. Inside the cell Heredity and reproduction Image: K.G. Murti, Visuals Unlimited, Inc. DNA replication fork.

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Animal cell organelles From cell to gene Proteins What is protein synthesis?

Transcription Transcription starts with an enzyme called polymerase copying the DNA sequence to a similar molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). It replaces T with U (Uracil), a helper base, making it clear that the mRNA is a copy. The bases (A, T, G, C) on one strand of the DNA specify the order of bases on the new strand of mRNA (A, U, G, C). The DNA stays inside the nucleus, but the mRNA travels out into the cytoplasm. Translation Translation is the part of protein synthesis where the ribosomes in the cytoplasm use transfer RNA (tRNA) to attach to the mRNA and translate the bases into amino acids. tRNA molecules bring the specified amino acids that the ribosome links together to make a protein. Legend: Process whereby DNA encodes for the production of amino acids and proteins. This process can be divided into two parts: 1. Transcription Before the synthesis of a protein begins, the corresponding RNA molecule is produced by RNA transcription. One strand of the DNA double helix is used as a template by the RNA polymerase to synthesize a messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA migrates from the nucleus to the

cytoplasm. During this step, mRNA goes through different types of maturation including one called splicing when the non-coding sequences are eliminated. The coding mRNA sequence can be described as a unit of three nucleotides called a codon. 2. Translation The ribosome binds to the mRNA at the start codon (AUG) that is recognized only by the initiator tRNA. The ribosome proceeds to the elongation phase of protein synthesis. During this stage, complexes, composed of an amino acid linked to tRNA, sequentially bind to the appropriate codon in mRNA by forming complementary base pairs with the tRNA anticodon. The ribosome moves from codon to codon along the mRNA. Amino acids are added one by one, translated into polypeptidic sequences dictated by DNA and represented by mRNA. At the end, a release factor binds to the stop codon, terminating translation and releasing the complete polypeptide from the ribosome. One specific amino acid can correspond to more than one codon. The genetic code is said to be degenerate.