Crianus Syliacus
Feb 7
Describe the process of protein synthesis?
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Feb 7
Protein synthesis is the process by which cells build proteins, which are essential for various biological functions. It involves two main steps: transcription and translation.
1. Transcription: The first step of protein synthesis is transcription, which occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells or the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. It involves the synthesis of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule from a DNA template.
- Initiation: RNA polymerase, an enzyme, binds to a specific region on the DNA called the promoter. This signals the beginning of transcription.
- Elongation: RNA polymerase moves along the DNA strand, unwinding it and synthesizing a complementary mRNA molecule. The enzyme adds nucleotides to the growing mRNA chain according to the DNA template.
- Termination: Transcription ends when RNA polymerase reaches a specific termination sequence on the DNA. The mRNA molecule is then released.
2. Translation: The second step of protein synthesis is translation, which occurs in the cytoplasm. It involves the conversion of the mRNA molecule into a functional protein.
- Initiation: The mRNA molecule binds to a ribosome, which serves as the site of protein synthesis. The ribosome recognizes a specific start codon (usually AUG) on the mRNA.
- Elongation: Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, each carrying a specific amino acid, bind to the ribosome. The tRNA molecules have an anticodon that is complementary to the codon on the mRNA. The ribosome moves along the mRNA, matching the codons with the appropriate anticodons and adding amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain.
- Termination: Translation ends when the ribosome reaches a stop codon on the mRNA. At this point, the polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome, and protein synthesis is complete.
After translation, the newly synthesized protein may undergo further modifications, such as folding, post-translational modifications, and targeting to specific cellular compartments, to become fully functional.
1. Transcription: The first step of protein synthesis is transcription, which occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells or the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. It involves the synthesis of a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule from a DNA template.
- Initiation: RNA polymerase, an enzyme, binds to a specific region on the DNA called the promoter. This signals the beginning of transcription.
- Elongation: RNA polymerase moves along the DNA strand, unwinding it and synthesizing a complementary mRNA molecule. The enzyme adds nucleotides to the growing mRNA chain according to the DNA template.
- Termination: Transcription ends when RNA polymerase reaches a specific termination sequence on the DNA. The mRNA molecule is then released.
2. Translation: The second step of protein synthesis is translation, which occurs in the cytoplasm. It involves the conversion of the mRNA molecule into a functional protein.
- Initiation: The mRNA molecule binds to a ribosome, which serves as the site of protein synthesis. The ribosome recognizes a specific start codon (usually AUG) on the mRNA.
- Elongation: Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, each carrying a specific amino acid, bind to the ribosome. The tRNA molecules have an anticodon that is complementary to the codon on the mRNA. The ribosome moves along the mRNA, matching the codons with the appropriate anticodons and adding amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain.
- Termination: Translation ends when the ribosome reaches a stop codon on the mRNA. At this point, the polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome, and protein synthesis is complete.
After translation, the newly synthesized protein may undergo further modifications, such as folding, post-translational modifications, and targeting to specific cellular compartments, to become fully functional.
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