Protein synthesis

• What is a gene

  Small section of a DNA
• What do genes code for

  Specific protein
• What are proteins made up of

  Amino acids
• Describe how the order of bases in DNA code for protein

  • Bases form groups of 3 = codons
  • Codons code for one specific particular amino acid
  • Amino acids join together -> long chain = polypeptide
  • Protein molecules fold -> specifically shaped proteins
• What are the 2 stages of protein synthesis

  Transcription + translation
• Where does transcription take place

  nucleus
• What happens during transcription

  • RNA polymerase binds to a non-coding region of DNA
  • RNA polymerase makes a complementary mRNA strand (from free floating) bases
  • T becomes U + base pairs with A
  • mRNA strand is small enough to exit nucleus by pores
• What happens to translation

  • mRNA binds to a ribosome + forms a mRNA ribosome complex
  • ribosome reads mRNA a triplet at a time
  • Complementary tRNA transfers amino acids that the mRNA codes for
  • Peptide bonds form between amino acids -> polypeptide chain
  • the chain folded into a specific 3D shape to form a specific protein