PROTEIN

SYNTHESIS
By Camila Regueira and Josefina Jerez
 01 TRANSCRIPTION

02 RNA
TOPICS
03 TRANSLATION

04 GENETIC CODE
 FIRST OF ALL...
● Gene: a section of a DNA molecule that codes
for the production of a single protein.

● Ribosome: a small structure found in the

cytoplasm of cells where proteins are made by
joining amino acids together into a long chain
0 TRANSCRIPTION

1
The first step
What is it?
Transcription is the process occurring in
the nucleus in which a double stranded
DNA molecule is used to make a single
stranded molecule of messenger RNA.
 1. INITIATION
It occurs when the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to
a region of a gene called the promoter. This signals
the DNA to unwind so the enzyme can “read” the
bases in one of the DNA strands. The enzyme is
ready to make a strand of mRNA with a
complementary sequence of bases.
 2. ELONGATION

Elongation is the addition of nucleotides to the

mRNA strand.
 3. TERMINATION

Termination is the ending of transcription. The mRNA

strand is complete, and it detaches from DNA.
0 RNA

2
Ribonucleic acid
 RNA DNA
● Small ● Big
● Consist of one nucleotide chain ● Consist of two nucleotide
● Nitrogen base Uracil chain
● Contains sugar ribose ● Nitrogen base Thymine
● Contains sugar deoxyribose
 RNA

mRNA tRNA rRNA

Copies the genetic code Brings amino acids to Forms ribosomes, the
and carries it outside the ribosomes, where they are organelle where proteins
nucleus. joined together to make are assembled.
proteins.
PROCESSING THE mRNA

In eukaryotes, the new mRNA is not yet ready for

translation.

At this stage, it is called pre-mRNA, and it must go

Almost
throughallmore
amino acids have
processing moreitthan
before one
leaves codon
the nucleus
as mature
that codes mRNA.
for them. For example, the amino acid
Thr is coded by four different codons (the
The processing may include splicing, editing, and
“letters” are the bases and the codons are the
polyadenylation. These processes modify the mRNA
“words”).
in various ways. Such modifications allow a single
gene to be used to make more than one protein.
The three codons marked stop are used as signals
for the ribosome to stop the process of
translation.
 1. SPLICING
Splicing removes introns from mRNA. Introns are
regions that don't code for the protein.

The remaining mRNA consists only of regions called

exons that do code for the protein.

The ribonucleoproteins in the diagram are small

proteins in the nucleus that contain RNA and are
needed for the splicing process.
 2. EDITING
Editing changes some of the nucleotides in mRNA.

For example, a human protein called APOB, which

helps transport lipids in the blood, has two different
forms because of editing.

One form is smaller than the other because editing

adds an earlier stop signal in mRNA.
3. POLYADENYLATION
Polyadenylation adds a “tail” to the mRNA.

The tail consists of a string of As (adenine bases).

It signals the end of mRNA. It is also involved in

exporting mRNA from the nucleus, and it protects
mRNA from enzymes that might break it down.
0 TRANSLATION

3
The second step
 WHAT
IS
IT?
Translation is the second stage of
protein synthesis that occurs in the
cytoplasm in a ribosome in which
amino acids are joined together in
the correct order to make protein.
CODONS
Each amino acid is coded for by a group of 3 adjacent bases on the mRNA molecule. These
triplets of bases are called codons.

● AUG is a codon that codes for the amino acid Methionine.

● AUC is a codon that codes for the amino acid Isoleucine.
● UCG is a codon that codes for the amino acid Serine.

UAA is called a stop codon since it ends the translation process at the ribosome.
0 GENETIC CODE

4
:)
 GENETIC CODE
Almost all amino acids have more than one codon
that codes for them. For example, the amino acid
Thr is coded by four different codons (the
“letters” are the bases and the codons are the
“words”).

The three codons marked stop are used as signals

for the ribosome to stop the process of
translation.
COMPLEMENTARY BASE
PAIRING
There are four possible bases in DNA;
- Adenine (A)
- Thymine (T)
- Cytosine (C)
- Guanine
Almost all amino(G)acids have more than one codon
that codes for them. For example, the amino acid
Bases
Thr pair upbyinfour
is coded a totally predictable
different codonsway
(theacross the
double stranded DNA molecule;
“letters” are the bases and the codons are the
- A always pairs up with T
“words”).
- C always pairs up with G

The
But, three
why iscodons
this? marked stop are used as signals
for the ribosome to stop the process of
translation.
COMPLEMENTARY
BASE
PAIRING
In the diagram we can see that A
and T are held together by two weak
hydrogen bonds, whereas C and G
are held together by 3 H bonds. This
means that this is the only way they
can pair up in a stable way.
GENETIC CODE
We can also get complementary base
pairing between RNA bases. So C ☰G
and A=U are the complementary bases
between two RNA molecules.

Notice that RNA contains the nitrogen

base uracil (U) instead of thymine (T).
Therefore, instead of A=T is A=U
 tRNA
tRNA molecules are found in the cytoplasm and
have an interesting structure. At one end, they
have an important triplet of bases called the
anticodon. At the other end, there is a place in
the molecule where an amino acid can be added.
Transfer RNA

The tRNA molecules are loaded up by

attaching an amino acid by a group of enzymes found
in the cytoplasm.

Almost all amino acids have more than one codon

Thesefor
that codes enzymes ensure
them. For that each
example, aminoacid
the amino acid is
onlyisattached
Thr coded bytofour
tRNA molecules
different with(the
codons the correct
anticodon.
“letters” are the bases and the codons are the
“words”).

The three codons marked stop are used as signals

for the ribosome to stop the process of
translation.
 tRNA
● Transfer RNA molecules are called like that
because they transfer the amino acids into the
ribosome. There is a complementary base
pairing between the anticodon on tRNA and
the codon on the mRNA
tRNA
The complementary base pairing
between the codon and anticodon when
combined with the structure of the
ribosome means that the amino acids
will be joined together in the correct
order to make protein.
 What happens next?

After a polypeptide chain is synthesized, it may

undergo additional processes.

For example, it may assume a folded shape due

toAlmost all amino
interactions acids have
between moreacids.
its amino than Itone
maycodon
also
bind
thatwith other
codes for polypeptides or withthe
them. For example, different
amino types
acid
ofThr
molecules, such as lipids or carbohydrates.
is coded by four different codons (the
“letters” are the bases and the codons are the
Many proteins travel to the Golgi apparatus
“words”).
within the cytoplasm to be modified for the specific
job they will do.
The three codons marked stop are used as signals
for the ribosome to stop the process of
translation.
Summary
● Protein synthesis is the process in which cells make proteins. It occurs in two stages:
transcription and translation.

● Transcription is the transfer of genetic instructions in DNA to mRNA in the nucleus. It

includes three steps: initiation, elongation, and termination. After the mRNA is
processed, it carries the instructions to a ribosome in the cytoplasm.

● Translation occurs at the ribosome, which consists of rRNA and proteins. In translation,
the instructions in mRNA are read, and tRNA brings the correct sequence of amino acids
to the ribosome. Then, rRNA helps bonds form between the amino acids, producing a
polypeptide chain.

● After a polypeptide chain is synthesized, it may undergo additional processing to form

the finished protein.
GLOSSARY
● Gene: a section of a DNA molecule that ● Anticodon: a triplet of adjacent bases
codes for the production of a single found on a transfer RNA molecule
protein.

● Ribosome: a small structure found in the

cytoplasm of cells where proteins are
Almostmade by joining
all amino aminomore
acids have acidsthan
together
one codon
into a long chain
that codes for them. For example, the amino acid
Thr is coded by four different codons (the
● Codon: a triplet of adjacent bases in a
“letters”mRNA
are the bases and
molecule thatthe codons
codes for aare the
single
“words”).
amino acid

The three codons marked stop are used as signals

for the ribosome to stop the process of
translation.
The End
Thanks :D