KNOWLEDGE AREA:

Life at Molecular, Cellular and

Tissue Level

TOPIC 1.1: DNA , The Code of

Life

Protein Synthesis
 Proteins are organic compounds.
 These organic compounds are made up of monomers.


The monomers are called amino acids.
 The amino acids are attached to each other by a process known as

dehydration synthesis.
 During dehydration synthesis one amino acid is attached to another
and some water is released.
 The amino acids are attached to each other by bonds.


These bonds are called peptide bonds.
 If two amino acids are joined together a

dipeptide is formed.
 If more than two amino acids are joined together

then a polypeptide chain is formed.

 Remember poly means many and di means two.
Dipeptides and polypeptides are formed in the following
way…

Amino acid + amino acid Dehydration dipeptide

synthesis
Amino acid + amino acid + amino acid Dehydration
polypeptide synthesis
 There are 20 different types of amino acids.
 All proteins are made from a combination of these twenty
different amino acids.
 The sequence of amino acids is different for different proteins.
 The sequence in which the amino acids can combine to form a
particular protein is determined by the sequence of the
nitrogen bases of the DNA
 Some examples of amino acids are valine, serine and glycine.
TERM:

Amino acids

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

are the monomers of a Proteins are made up of

protein smaller units called amino
acids.
TERM:

Peptide bonds

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

these are bonds that attaches During the formation of a

one amino acid to another in protein, the amino acids are
a protein held together by peptide
bonds.
TERM:

Dipeptide

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

when two amino acids are A dipeptide chain is formed

joined together. when valine is joined to
serine by a peptide bond.
TERM:

Polypeptide chain

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

is formed when more than A polypeptide chain is formed

two amino acids are joined when more than two amino
together. acids are joined together.
TERM:

Dehydration synthesis

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

is the process during which Polypeptide chains are

one amino acid is combined formed by the process of
with another and water is dehydration synthesis.
released.
 Protein synthesis is the process during which
proteins are made.
 The process begins in the nucleus and ends in the
ribosome in the cytoplasm.
 Protein synthesis occurs in 3 stages.
 These 3 stages are…

1. Transcription
2. Movement of mRNA out of the nucleus
3. Translation
We shall look at each of these stages.
1. Transcription…


During transcription mRNA is formed.
It occurs in the following…
1. Double helix unwinds.
2. The weak hydrogen bonds break.
3. Two single strands of DNA results.
4. One strands acts as template for the formation of mRNA.
5. Free RNA nucleotides from the nucleoplasm attaches to the
complementary bases on DNA.
 A new mRNA is formed.

A group of 3 adjacent nitrogen bases is called a codon.

This process is called transcription.

This process is controlled by the enzyme RNA
polymerase.
2. Movement of mRNA out of the Nucleus…

 Once the mRNA is formed it moves out of the nucleus.

 It moves out through the nuclear pores into the
cytoplasm.
 In the cytoplasm it comes to lie on the ribosome.
3. Translation
 The tRNA is involved in
translation.
 At the bottom of the
tRNA there are 3 nitrogen
bases.
 These 3 nitrogen bases
are called the anticodon.
 The tRNA picks up the free amino acids from the
cytoplasm.
 tRNA carries the amino acids to the ribosome.
 On the ribosome the tRNA attaches to the mRNA
using its nitrogen base as a template.
 The sequence of the amino acids on the protein is
determined by the nitrogen bases on the mRNA.
 The amino acids are then attached to each other by
peptide bonds, to form the protein.
 Now lets look at this process using a diagram

This is really important because it

will help you to interpret diagrams
and questions!!!!
The Process of Protein Synthesis
TERM:

Protein synthesis

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

is the process during which Protein synthesis is the

proteins are made. process during which proteins
are made.
TERM:

Transcription

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

refers to the process Transcription is brought

occurring in the nucleus about by the enzyme
during which mRNA is transcriptase or RNA
made. polymerase.
TERM:

Translation

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

refers to the process During translation tRNA

occurring in the cytoplasm picks up amino acids and
during which amino acid arranges them along the
combine according to the mRNA on the ribosome.
sequence of the codons on
mRNA.
TERM:

Codon

Diagram showing codons and anticodons

DEFINITION: USE OF SENTENCE:

a triplet of nitrogen bases The anticodons on tRNA matches

on mRNA up with the codons on mRNA.
TERM:

Anticodon

Anticodon

DEFINITION: USE IN SENTENCE:

refers to a triplet of bases The base triplets on tRNA is

on tRNA called the anticodon.
 In the next slide we will look at some question that can be
asked in this topic. These questions are from November
2011.

 Once we know how to answer these question we will

practice with November 2013 paper.

Pay careful attention because this is the

most commonly asked question!!!!
The questions below are based on protein synthesis.
4.3.1 Describe the role of DNA during transcription in protein
synthesis. (4)
This is fairly easy
- DNA codes for a particular protein/polypeptide/amino acid
sequence
- One strand is used as a template
- To form mRNA
- DNA cannot leave nucleus. Any (4)
4.3.2 The diagram below shows the sequence of nitrogenous
bases of a small part of a strand of DNA which codes for
part of a protein molecule.
CGG--- TAT--- CCT

Write down the mRNA codon sequence that reads from left
to right from the DNA sequence above. (3)

In order for us to answer this question we must understand

the question.
The question tells us…
1.The code that is given is from the DNA.
2.We need to write down the mRNA sequence.
We do this in the following way
1.Write down the code from DNA: CGG--- TAT--- CCT
2.Using the above code we write down the complementary
nitrogen base for RNA as follows…GCC--- AUA--- GGA
NB!!! because we are using the RNA nitrogen bases we use uracil
instead of thymine
 In order to answer such question you must learn the following
order
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino acid
If you remember the above sequence you will be able to find the
nitrogen base of any of the above.
4.3.3 The list below shows the tRNA anticodons and their
corresponding amino acids.
ANTICODONS OF tRNA AMINO ACIDS
CAA Valine
CCC Glycine
CGU Alanine
AAA Phenylalanine
UUA Asparagine
UAC Methionine
GGU Proline
ACC Tryptophan
UCA Serine
 Select and write down from the list above, the amino acids
(in the correct sequence) that would be required for the
base sequence of mRNA shown below.

GGG--- CCA--- AGU

What does the question ask?

We must write down in correct order the amino acids for the
given codons. From the rules given we must write down
the complementary anticodons of the tRNA.
This is as follows
GGG--- CCA--- AGU (mRNA)
CCC--- GGU--- UCA (tRNA)
Now that we have the tRNA anticodons, we can use the given
table to write down the corresponding amino acids in the
correct order

Therefore the answer is…

Glycine Proline Serine (in sequence)
2.2.1 translation

2.2.2 a. mRNA

b. tRNA

c. Amino acid

2.2.3 histidine, glycine, methionine

 The order of the nitrogen bases on the DNA molecule
determines the sequence of bases on mRNA.
 The sequence of bases on mRNA will determine the
sequence of amino acids that would form the protein.
 This is the reason why we say that DNA has the genetic
code for the formation of a particular protein.
 Amino acids: is the monomer of a protein.
 Dipeptide: when two amino acids are joined together.
 Polypeptide chain: is formed when more than two amino acids
are joined together.
 Dehydration synthesis: is the process during which one amino
acid is combined with another and water is released.
 Protein synthesis: is the process during which proteins are made.
 Transcription: refers to the process occurring the nucleus during
which mRNA is made.
 Translation: refers to the process occurring in the
cytoplasm during which amino acids combine according
to the sequence of the codons on mRNA.
 Peptide bonds: these are bonds that attaches one
amino acid to another in a protein.
 Codon: refers to a triplet of nitrogen bases on mRNA.
 Anticodon: refers to a triplet of bases on tRNA
FINAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS 1 - 20
The portion of DNA that carries the genetic code for the
formation of a particular protein by specifying its amino acid
sequence.
A. Genetic code
B. tRNA
C. mRNA
D. Both B and C
The anticodon is the triplet of bases on…
A. DNA
B. tRNA
C. mRNA
D. None of the above
The codon is the triplet of bases on…

A. DNA
B. tRNA
C. mRNA

D. None of the above

The site of protein synthesis…
A. Ribosomes
B. Cytoplasm
C. Mitochondrion
D. Chloroplast
For the tRNA sequence: CCA--- UAU--- GGU
The sequence of codons on mRNA would be…
A. GGT---ATA--- CCA
B. GGU--- AUA --- CCA
C. GGT--- AUA--- CCT
D. CCA--- AUA--- GGU
For the tRNA sequence: CCA--- UAU--- GGU
The sequence of nitrogen bases on DNA would be…
A. GGT---ATA--- CCA
B. GGU--- AUA --- CCA
C. GGT--- AUA--- CCT
D. CCA--- TAT--- GGT
The enzyme that is responsible for transcription is …
A. Transcriptase
B. RNA polymerase
C. DNA polymerase
D. Both A and B
Transcription is the process during which…
A. mRNA is made
B. tRNA is made
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
Transcription occurs in the…
A. Cytoplasm
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. mitochondrion
Translation is the process during which…
A. mRNA is made
B. tRNA picks up free amino acids
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
Translation occurs in/on the…
A. Chloroplast
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Mitochondrion
The arrangement of amino acids during translation is determined by the…
A. Order of nitrogen bases on DNA
B. Sequence of codons of mRNA
C. Sequence of anticodons on tRNA
D. All of the above
The process during which one amino acid is joined to another…
A. Transcription
B. Translation
C. Dehydration synthesis
D. Protein synthesis
The inorganic substance that is released during dehydration
synthesis…
A. Nitrogen
B. Carbon
C. Water
D. Oxygen
The substance that is formed when three or more amino acids combine
is called…
A. Dipeptide
B. Polypeptide
C. Protein
D. Amino acid
The substance that is formed when two amino acids combine is called…

A. Dipeptide

B. Polypeptide

C. Protein

D. Amino acid
The substance that is formed when there is a long chain of amino
acids are joined together (more than 50)
A. Dipeptide
B. Polypeptide
C. Protein
D. Amino acid
During transcription the first step is…
A. Free nucleotides are attached to complementary bases
B. The DNA unwinds
C. Weak hydrogen bonds break
D. mRNA is formed
During protein synthesis the steps occur in the following order…
A. Transcription, mRNA moves out of the nucleus, translation
B. Translation, movement of mRNA out of nucleus, transcription
C. Transcription, translation, movement of mRNA out of nucleus
D. Translation, transcription, movement of mRNA out of nucleus
The tRNA sequence from a protein of a DNA template CATATTGCC
is…
A. GUAUAACGG
B. CAUAUUGCC
C. GTATAACGG
D. CATAUTGCC
1. A 11. B
2. B 12. D
3. C 13. C
4. A 14. C
5. B 15. B
6. D 16. A
7. D 17. C
8. A 18. B
9. C 19. A
10. B 20. B