Translation is the RNA- TRANSCRIPTION DNA

directed synthesis of a mRNA

Ribosome

polypeptide TRANSLATION
Polypeptide

Translation involves
Amino
mRNA acids
Polypeptide
Ribosomes - Ribosomal RNA
Transfer RNA tRNA with
amino acid
Genetic coding - codons
Ribosome attached
Trp
Phe Gly

tRNA
C
C
GC G
A
Anticodon
A A A
U G G U U U G G C

5 Codons 3
mRNA
 Genetic information is encoded as a sequence of nonoverlapping
base triplets, or codons

DNA Gene 2
molecule
Gene 1
Gene 3

DNA strand 3 5
(template) A C C A A A C C G A G T

TRANSCRIPTION

U G G U U U G G C U C A
mRNA 5 3
Codon
TRANSLATION

Protein Trp Phe Gly Ser

Amino acid
 Codons: 3 base code for the production of a specific amino acid,
sequence of three of the four different nucleotides

Since there are 4 bases and 3 positions in each codon, there are 4
x 4 x 4 = 64 possible codons

64 codons but only 20 amino acids, therefore most have more

than 1 codon

3 of the 64 codons are used as STOP signals; they are found at the
end of every gene and mark the end of the protein

One codon is used as a START signal: it is at the start of every

protein

Universal: in all living organisms

 A codon in messenger RNA is either translated into an
amino acid or serves as a translational start/stop signal

Second mRNA base

U C A G
UUU UCU UAU UGU U
Phe Tyr Cys
UUC UCC UAC UGC C
U
UUA UCA Ser UAA Stop UGA Stop A
UUG Leu UCG UAG Stop UGG Trp G

Third mRNA base (3 end)

First mRNA base (5 end)

CUU CCU CAU CGU U

His
CUC CCC CAC CGC C
C Leu CCA Pro Arg
CUA CAA CGA A
Gln
CUG CCG CAG CGG G
AUU ACU AAU AGU U
Asn
A
AUC lle ACC AAC AGC Ser C
Thr
AUA ACA AAA AGA A
Lys
AGG Arg G
Met or
AUG start ACG AAG
GUU GCU GAU GGU U
Asp C
G GUC Val
GCC
Ala
GAC GGC
Gly
GUA GCA GAA GGA A
GUG GCG GAG Glu GGG G

Site of protein synthesis in the cell

Each ribosome is composed of 2 subunits

a large subunit and a small subunit

Prokaryotes have 70Sribosomes, each

consisting of a small (30S) and a large
(50S)
Eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes, each
consisting of a small (40S) and large (60S)
subunit
 Ribosomes are also composed of
ribosomal RNA
Ribosomal RNA makes up around
80% total RNA in the cell
Ribosomal RNA provides a
mechanism for
decodingmRNAintoamino acids
 Function of the ribosome
Is to hold mRNA and tRNA and other
enzymes controlling the process until
a poly peptide is formed
 Ribosomes facilitate the specific coupling of tRNA anticodons
with mRNA codons during protein synthesis
The 2 ribosomal subunits are constructed of proteins and RNA
molecules named ribosomal RNA or rRNA

TRANSCRIPTION DNA

mRNA
Ribosome
TRANSLATION

Polypeptide
Exit tunnel
Growing
polypeptide
tRNA
molecules
Large
subunit
E
P A

Small
subunit

5
mRNA 3
(a) Computer model of functioning ribosome. This is a model of a bacterial
ribosome, showing its overall shape. The eukaryotic ribosome is roughly
similar. A ribosomal subunit is an aggregate of ribosomal RNA molecules
and proteins.
 Each amino acid has its own family of t-RNA

It is capable of transferring amino acids present in the

cytoplasm to the ribosome

It acts like an intermediate between the triplet of codes on

the mRNA and the amino acid sequences
Each carries a specific amino acid on one end and has an
anticodon on the other end
The anticodon is the 3 RNA bases that matches the 3
bases of the codon on the mRNA molecule

A special group of enzymes pairs up the proper tRNA

molecules with their corresponding amino acids.
 Transfer RNA molecules are short
RNAs that fold into a
characteristic cloverleaf pattern.

Each tRNA has 3 bases that make

up the anticodon. These bases
pair with the 3 bases of the codon
on mRNA during translation.

Each tRNA has its corresponding

amino acid attached to the 3 end.

A set of enzymes, the aminoacyl

tRNA synthetases, are used to
charge the tRNA with the proper
amino acid.
 Transfer RNA
anticodon- 3 to 5 sequence
that matches the
complementary 5 to 3sequence
(codon) on the mRNA
Acceptor arm - Amino acid code
on 3 end
5 end always ends with guanine
(G)
3 end always has the base
sequence ACC
T and D loops provide structure
for interface with aminoacyl-
tRNA synthetase
 Consists of a single RNA strand that is only about 80
nucleotides long
Each carries a specific amino acid on one end and has an
anticodon on the other end
A special group of enzymes pairs up the proper tRNA
molecules with their corresponding amino acids.
tRNA brings the amino acids to the ribosomes,

3
Amino acid A
C
attachment site C
A 5
C G
The anticodon is the 3 RNA bases that G C
C G
matches the 3 bases of the codon on the U G
U A
mRNA molecule A U
U C A U
* C A C AG UA A G *
G * C U C
G U G U * G
*
C C G A G
* * U C * A G G
* G AG C
(a) Two-dimensional structure. The four base-paired regions and three G C Hydrogen
loops are characteristic of all tRNAs, as is the base sequence of the U A bonds
amino acid attachment site at the 3 end. The anticodon triplet is * G
A
unique to each tRNA type. (The asterisks mark bases that have been A* C
chemically modified, a characteristic of tRNA.) * U
A G
A
Anticodon
 We can divide translation into three stages
Initiation
Elongation
Termination
The AUG start codon is recognized by methionyl-tRNA or
Met
Once the start codon has been identified, the ribosome
incorporates amino acids into a polypeptide chain
RNA is decoded by tRNA (transfer RNA) molecules, which
each transport specific amino acids to the growing chain
Translation ends when a stop codon (UAA, UAG, UGA) is
reached
 The initiation stage of translation brings together mRNA,
tRNA bearing the first amino acid of the polypeptide,
and two subunits of a ribosome

Large
ribosomal
P site subunit
3 U A C 5
t t
Me 5 A U G 3 Me

Initiator tRNA
GTP GDP
E A
mRNA
5 3 5 3
Start codon

mRNA binding site Small Translation initiation complex

ribosomal
subunit

1 2
A small ribosomal subunit binds to a molecule of
mRNA. In a prokaryotic cell, the mRNA binding site
on this subunit recognizes a specific nucleotide
sequence on the mRNA just upstream of the start
codon. An initiator tRNA, with the anticodon UAC,
base-pairs with the start codon, AUG. This tRNA
carries the amino acid methionine (Met).
The arrival of a large ribosomal subunit completes
the initiation complex. Proteins called initiation
factors (not shown) are required to bring all the
translation components together. GTP provides
the energy for the assembly. The initiator tRNA is
in the P site; the A site is available to the tRNA
bearing the next amino acid.
 In the elongation stage, amino acids are added one by
one to the preceding amino acid
 The final stage is termination when the ribosome reaches a
stop codon in the mRNA
 The final step in translation is termination. When
the ribosome reaches a STOP codon, there is no
corresponding transfer RNA.
Instead, a small protein called a release factor
attaches to the stop codon.
The release factor causes the whole complex to
fall apart: messenger RNA, the two ribosome
subunits, the new polypeptide.
The messenger RNA can be translated many
times, to produce many protein copies.
 http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sit
es/0072437316/student_view0/chapter
15/animations.html#
 TRANSCRIPTION DNA
1RNA is transcribed
from a DNA template.
3
A
ly-
Po

5 RNA RNA
transcript polymerase
RNA PROCESSING Exon
2
In eukaryotes, the RNA transcript
RNA transcript (pre- (pre-mRNA)
mRNA) is spliced and Intron
modified to produce
mRNA, which moves Aminoacyl-tRNA
from the nucleus to the p synthetase
Ca
cytoplasm. NUCLEUS

Amino
FORMATION OF acid
INITIATION COMPLEX AMINO ACID ACTIVATION
CYTOPLASM tRNA
3 After leaving the 4
Each amino acid
nucleus, mRNA attaches attaches to its proper tRNA
to the ribosome. with the help of a specific
enzyme and ATP.
mRNA Growing
polypeptide
A Activated
ly-
Po amino acid
A
ly-
Po
Ribosomal
subunits

p
Ca
5
TRANSLATION
C 5
A C U
AC A succession of tRNAs
E A add their amino acids to
Anticodon the polypeptide chain
A A A
as the mRNA is moved
U G G U U U A U G
through the ribosome
one codon at a time.
Figure 17.26 Codon (When completed, the
polypeptide is released
Ribosome from the ribosome.)
 The new polypeptide is now floating loose in the
cytoplasm if translated by a free ribosme.
It might also be inserted into a membrane, if
translated by a ribosome bound to the endoplasmic
reticulum.
Polypeptides fold spontaneously into their active
configuration, and they spontaneously join with
other polypeptides to form the final proteins.
Protein modification occurs in the endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi Apparatus
Sometimes other molecules are also attached to the
polypeptides: sugars, lipids, phosphates, etc. All of
these have special purposes for protein function .
 Addition of hydrophobic groups for
membrane localization
Addition of cofactors for enhanced
enzymatic activity
Unique modifications of translation
factors
Addition of smaller chemical groups
Addition of other proteins or peptides
Changing the chemical nature of
amino acids

Methylation- addition of a methyl
group

Glycosyliation- addition of a gycosyl

group

See post-translational modification

on wikipedia
 http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sit
es/0072437316/student_view0/chapter
15/animations.html#