Protein Synthesis

• Protein synthesis


  The process by which cells make proteins
• Protein synthesis


  1. Transcription (in nucleus)

  2. Translation (in cytoplasm)
• DNA


  A double-stranded polymer of molecules called nucleotides
• Nucleotides in DNA


  • A
  • T
  • G
  • C
• DNA strands


  • Complementary (A pairs with T, C pairs with G)
• Proteins


  Polymers of amino acids
• Amino acids


  • 20 different amino acids in humans
• Proteins


  • Order of amino acids determines shape and function (e.g. enzymes, structural proteins, hormones)
• Transcription


  DNA sequence copied into complementary messenger RNA (mRNA)
• mRNA


  Single-stranded template molecule
• Translation


  1. mRNA attaches to ribosome

  2. Amino acids brought by transfer RNA (tRNA)

  3. Ribosome reads mRNA triplets and joins amino acids in correct order

  4. Protein folds into unique shape