protein synthesis

• DNA replication:

  1. DNA helicase catalyses the reactions that break down the hydrogen bonds between bases causing the DNA strands to unwind
  2. free nucleotides base pair to the newly exposed bases
  3. DNA polymerase catalyses the formation of phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotides
• Transcription is a similar process to DNA replication however it involves RNA nucleotides base pairing with the DNA strand and RNA polymerase catalyses the formation of phosphodiester bonds.
• Transcription:

  1. DNA helicase catalyses the break down of hydrogen bonds between bases causing the DNA strands to unwind
  2. free RNA nucleotides base pair with the newly exposed bases
  3. RNA polymerase catalyses the formation of phosphodiester bonds between the RNA nucleotides
  4. this shorter strand is mRNA which detached from the DNA template and leaves the nucleus through a nuclear pore and travels to a ribosome
• Translation:

  1. mRNA binds to a ribosome
  2. tRNA have anticodons that bind to the complementary codon on mRNA
  3. when the anticodons on the tRNA bind to the complementary codons along mRNA, the amino acids are brought together in the correct sequence and code for the primary structure of the protein