Protein

Synthesis

How do we get
proteins from a
bunch of A’s, T’s,
C’s and G’s in
DNA??
DNA contains the code of life…

The sequence of DNA

codes for proteins.

Proteins are essential

parts of all living things.

Hormones, antibodies, enzymes,

and body parts like muscles,
ligament, cartilage and more are
all made from proteins that our
DNA codes for.
Remember that…
Proteins are made at the ribosomes, which
are located in the cytoplasm of the cell.

So how does the genetic

code get from DNA in the
nucleus to the ribosomes
way out in the cytoplasm?!
RNA!!!
RiboNucleic Acid
3 Basic Parts of RNA:
1. Ribose Sugar
2. Phosphate group
3. Nitrogenous bases

RNA is single-stranded.
RNA contains the
nitrogenous base uracil
instead of thymine.
RNA is a disposable copy of a
segment of DNA.

There are 3 main types of

RNA.
1.Messenger RNA (mRNA)
2.Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
3.Transfer RNA (tRNA)
 Messenger RNA (mRNA)
mRNA is a copy of the
genetic code that can
travel out into the
DNA is too big and too
cytoplasm to the
important to go out into the
ribosomes.
cytoplasm itself.

mRNA is short and

disposable (more can easily
be made), so it is perfect for
traveling out into the
cytoplasm to the ribosomes.
CAGUCUAGG
UCCAUGAAG
UGACCCUGA
 Ribosomes
Ribosomes are made up of
another type of RNA,
ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Ribosomes
translate the code
that mRNA carries
into a protein.
 Transfer RNA (tRNA)
• tRNA carries amino
acids to the ribosomes
where they are linked
together to form a
protein
• Each tRNA has a
specific anticodon that
is complementary to a
codon on mRNA.
• The anticodons match
up with the codons to
ensure that the correct
amino acid is added to
the polypeptide chain.
How is RNA made?
Transcription!
A lot like the process of
DNA Replication…

1. RNA Polymerase unzips

the DNA molecule.
2. RNA Polymerase then
adds nucleotides to one
side of the DNA making
an RNA molecule.
3. The RNA molecule
detaches from the DNA
strand and makes its way
out of the nucleus to
perform its different jobs

*** Remember that there are

no T’s in RNA. Uracil (U) is
used in place of thymine (T)***
Before the mRNA can go to the
ribosomes, it must be edited…

There are some parts of the

Introns are in-
DNA sequence that aren’t between…
involved in coding for
proteins. These parts are
called introns, and the introns
must be removed from Exons are
mRNA. expressed…
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.c
fm?guidAssetId=3DF0AE3C-71BF-4475-97
BA-7FC37C600843&blnFromSearch=1&pro
ductcode=US
 How Does a Code Work?
Pick a word that has at least 5 different
letters… DON’T TELL ANYONE YOUR
WORD!!!
Using the shapes on the board, come up
with a code for your word.
We will exchange codes with each other
and try to figure them out…
How were you able to encode 5
different letters using only 4
different colored beads?
 The Genetic Code
3-letter “words” code for
amino acids.

Amino acids are the

building blocks of
proteins.

The “words” of DNA are

called codons.
 3-letter “words” of the DNA sequence that code for
CODONS amino acids.
There are 64 codons… because there are 4
possible bases for each slot (4x4x4=64!)

Since there are only 20 amino acids, some amino

acids are coded for by more than one codon.

mRNA code
UCGCACGGUCAGGUGCAC

codons
UCG-CAC-GGU-CAG-GUG-CAC

Amino acids
Serine-Histidine-Glycine-Glutamine-Valine-Histidine
 Your Turn!
AUGGUGCCACGAAGGUGA

AUG-GUG-CCA-CGA-AGG-UGA

Methionine-Valine-
Proline-Arginine-Arginine-
Stop
 Special Codons
• Some codons don’t code for an amino
acid.

• Instead they signal the start of the

protein or they code for synthesis to
stop like the period at the end of a
sentence!
 Translation
The process where the genetic code is read and a protein is
created at the ribosomes.

1. mRNA travels from the

nucleus to the ribosomes
2. Ribosomes begin “reading”
the mRNA
3. Transfer RNA (tRNA)
carries amino acids to the
ribosomes where they are
joined together in the
correct order
STEP 1: The first step in protein synthesis is
the transcription of mRNA from a DNA gene
in the nucleus. At some other prior time, the
various other types of RNA have been
synthesized using the appropriate DNA. The
RNAs migrate from the nucleus into the
cytoplasm.
Prior to the beginning of the protein
synthesis, all of the component parts are
assembled in the ribosome which is the
brown/tan structure in the left graphic.
STEP 2: Initiation:
In the cytoplasm, protein synthesis is actually
initiated by the AUG codon on mRNA. The
AUG codon signals both the interaction of the
ribosome with m-RNA and also the tRNA with
the anticodons (UAC). The tRNA which
initiates the protein synthesis has N-formyl-
methionine attached. The formyl group is
really formic acid converted to an amide using
the -NH2 group on methionine (left most
graphic)
The next step is for a second tRNA to
approach the mRNA (codon - CCG). This is
the code for proline. The anticodon of the
proline tRNA which reads this is GGC. The
final process is to start growing peptide
chain by having amine of proline to bond to
the carboxyl acid group of methinone (met)
in order to elongate the peptide.

The next codon is UAU. What is the next

amino acid to be added?
STEP 3: Elongation:
Elongation of the peptide begins as various
tRNA's read the next codon. In the
example on the left the next tRNA to read
the mRNA is tyrosine. When the correct
match with the anticodons of a tRNA has
been found, the tyrosine forms a peptide
bond with the growing peptide chain .
The proline is now hydrolyzed from the
tRNA. The proline tRNA now moves away
from the ribosome and back into the
cytoplasm to reattach another proline
amino acid. The next codon is GCU. What
is the next amino acid to be added?
When the stop signal on mRNA is reached,
the protein synthesis is terminated. The
last amino acid is hydrolyzed from its t-
RNA.
The peptide chain leaves the ribosome.
The N-formyl-methionine that was used
to initiate the protein synthesis is also
hydrolyzed from the completed peptide at
this time.
The ribosome is now ready to repeat the
synthesis several more times.
Excellent animated movie showing proteinsynthesis
http://www.wellesley.edu/Chemistry/chem227/nucleicfunction/transl
ation/prtsynth.mov

Animation of entire proteinsynthesis

http://www.johnkyrk.com/DNAtranslation.html

Nice proteinsynthesis tutorial

http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0470003790/animations/
translation/translation.htm

A very thorough animation

http://www.brookscole.com/chemistry_d/templates/student_resource
s/shared_resources/animations/protein_synthesis/protein_synthesis.
html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=983lhh20rGY&feature=related
Draw a
graphic
organizer or
flow chart
to show the
path from
DNA to
protein!