Protein Synthesis

• Why are proteins essential for cells?

  They are essential for various cellular functions
• What are the two main stages of protein synthesis?

  • Transcription
  • Translation
• Where does transcription occur in eukaryotic cells?

  In the nucleus
• What is the first step in protein synthesis?

  Transcription
• What is copied into mRNA during transcription?

  A segment of DNA (a gene)
• What pairs with adenine in RNA during transcription?

  Uracil (U)
• What is the role of the ribosome in translation?

  It facilitates the synthesis of proteins
• What is the process by which cells create proteins?

  Protein synthesis
• What is the function of tRNA in translation?

  Transfers amino acids to the ribosome
• What is the start codon for translation?

  AUG
• How does the ribosome add amino acids during translation?

  By moving along the mRNA and using tRNA
• What is released at the end of translation?

  The completed protein chain
• Why is protein synthesis important for cells?

  It is essential for growth and maintenance
• What types of proteins are produced through protein synthesis?

  Enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and others
• What are the steps of transcription?

  1. Initiation: RNA polymerase binds to the promoter
  2. Elongation: RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA
  3. Termination: RNA polymerase reaches a stop signal
• What enzyme is involved in transcription?

  RNA polymerase
• What happens during the elongation phase of transcription?

  RNA polymerase adds complementary RNA nucleotides
• What are the steps of translation?

  1. Initiation: Ribosome attaches to mRNA
  2. Elongation: tRNA binds to mRNA codons
  3. Termination: Ribosome reaches a stop codon
• What does mRNA carry from the DNA to the ribosome?

  The genetic code
• Who are the key players in protein synthesis?

  • DNA: Blueprint for protein synthesis
  • mRNA: Messenger carrying genetic code
  • tRNA: Transfers amino acids
  • Ribosomes: Facilitate translation
  • Amino acids: Building blocks of proteins
• Where does protein synthesis occur in the cell?

  In the nucleus and cytoplasm
• What is the role of RNA in protein synthesis?

  RNA carries the genetic message from DNA
• What are the two major steps in protein synthesis?

  Transcription and translation
• What happens during transcription?

  DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA
• What enzyme is responsible for transcription?

  RNA polymerase
• What does mRNA stand for?

  Messenger RNA
• Why is mRNA not usually ready immediately after transcription?

  It undergoes significant editing before use
• Where does mRNA go after transcription?

  It exits the nucleus into the cytoplasm
• What is the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

  Ribosomes build proteins from mRNA
• What does tRNA stand for?

  Transfer RNA
• What do tRNA molecules carry?

  They carry amino acids
• How does tRNA know which amino acids to bring?

  It reads the codons on the mRNA
• What is a codon?

  A sequence of three mRNA bases
• What does the tRNA anticodon pair with?

  It pairs with the complementary mRNA codon
• How many codons can code for the same amino acid?

  More than one codon can code
• What amino acid does the codon CCA code for?

  Proline
• What bond holds amino acids together in a protein?

  Peptide bond
• What indicates the end of protein synthesis?

  A stop codon on the mRNA
• What happens to the protein after translation?

  It may undergo folding and modification
• What is the role of DNA in protein synthesis?

  It directs the entire protein building process