Protein Synthesis

It is expected that students will…

•Demonstrate knowledge of the basic steps of protein synthesis, identifying the roles of DNA,
mRNA, and ribosomes in the processes of transcription and translation.

•Determine the sequence of amino acids coded for by a specific DNA sequence, given a table of
mRNA codons.

•Give examples of two environmental mutagens that can cause mutations in humans.

•Use examples to explain how mutations in DNA affect protein synthesis and may lead to genetic
disorders.
1. Humans share most of the same protein families with worms, flies, and plants
2. Hair grows by forming new cells at the base of the root. As they move upward
through the skin they are cut off from their nutrient supply and start to form a hard
protein called keratin in a process called keratinization. As this occurs, the hair cells
die. The dead cells and keratin form the shaft of the hair.
3. Fingernails grow about three or four times as quickly as toenails
4. Each hair grows about 1/4 inch/month and grows for up to 6 years.
5. The most expressive muscles are the facial muscles. We need 17 muscles to smile
and 43 muscles to frown.
6. The most numerous are the skeletal muscles. When we walk for instance, we use
200 muscles.
1. Structural: proteins help make up all structures in living things
Actin & Myosin: muscle proteins

Keratin: nails, hair, horns, Collagen: bones, teeth, cartilage, tendon, ligament,
feathers blood vessels, skin matrix
 2. Functional: other proteins help us to keep our bodies
functioning properly and to digest our food.
Enzymes: lower the energy of
activation to digest our food and
to assist in cellular metabolism.

Hemoglobin
Protein structure is determined by the genetic code in your DNA. The section of DNA
that codes for one protein is called a
gene

A gene is a section of
DNA that
determines the 10
sequence of amino
acids in a protein.

Therefore, the gene

determines the shape
and therefore, the
function of the
protein it codes for.
(rRNA)
If the process of protein synthesis were a play, these would be the roles of all of
the people involved

The director who has the master plan DNA (genes)

Three assistant directors mRNA, tRNA, rRNA

The cast Amino acids

The stage Ribosome

The stage crew Enzymes
mRNA Function rRNA Function
tRNA Function
TRANSCRIPTON • are where translation of
- transcribe DNA - To deliver amino RNA to protein takes
code acids to the ribosome place
- take code outside of as it is building • Ribosomes are made up
nucleus to (synthesizing) protein of protein and ribosomal
ribosome RNA (rRNA)
- give instructions to
ribosome on how
to build protein
Act One: Transcription
(Trans = across, cription = to write)

The coded message of a gene on DNA has specific instructions on how to

make each particular protein that our bodies need
DNA mRNA
The instructions from a gene are copied
from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA) in A
U
the nucleus
T
A
Then, the mRNA moves through the C
nuclear pores and into the cytoplasm G

where the proteins are made. G

C
The process of making mRNA is called TRANSCRIPTION
 Watch the General Process
Step 1: Helicase unwinds the DNA (starting at the promoter).
Step 2: Complementary RNA base pairs attach to form the mRNA strand
Step 3:RNA polymerase forms the RNA sugar-phosphate backbone and
checks for mistakes

Step 4: The RNA detaches & leaves the nucleus, & the DNA winds back up
Take a closer look (how the RNA
strand forms)
Act Two: Translation
 The
mRNA code is made up of groups of three nucleotide bases
known as codons. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid.

Eg. AGC = Serine

Eg. UGC = Cysteine

CAU? CUU? AUG?

AAA?
GGC? UGA?
 Why a Triplet Code?
It takes 3 nucleotides on the mRNA to code for 1 a.a.

Why? We must code for 20 different amino acids and there

are only 4 letters (nucleotides) in the alphabet.
With a single nucleotide, there are only 4 possible codes (41).

For two nucleotides, there are only 16 possible codes (42).

However, for three nucleotides there are 64 possible codes (43), and
that is enough to code for the 20 amino acids.
mRNA codon chart
•The written code (codons) on mRNA is ‘translated’
into a specific amino acid sequence by ribosomes
in the cytoplasm.

•This is carried out

with the help of
relatively small
transfer RNA
(tRNA) molecules.
A tRNA molecule is a small piece of RNA that has a
specific amino acid attached to it.

The tRNA also has a

special sequence of 3
nucleotide bases known
as an anticodon.

There is at least one type of

tRNA for each of the 20 amino
acids.
As the correct amino acids are brought to the ribosome by the
tRNAs, they are joined together via dehydration synthesis to
form the protein that the original DNA coded for.
Please note that there is more than one codon for each amino
acid:
mRNA codons: U C U G C C
tRNA anti-codons: A G A C G G

SERINE ALANINE

Why do you think that is?

 The Steps of Translation:
1. The mRNA molecule moves through a pore in the nuclear envelope and
in to the cytoplasm. It joins with a ribosome and is translated one amino
acid at a time.
2. ‘INITIATION’: the first codon on any mRNA molecule is called the
‘INITIATOR’. This codon is always AUG, which codes for the amino acid
methionine. This is a message to START translation.
3. ‘ELONGATION’: the ribosome’s job is to position the tRNA molecule
onto the matching mRNA molecule.
This makes it possible for a peptide bond to be formed between
the amino acids attached to the tRNA molecules. These amino
acids chains make up the protein.
The enzyme that catalyzes this reaction is called PEPTIDYL
TRANSFERASE.
4. TERMINATION: The last codon on any mRNA molecule is
called the ‘TERMINATOR’ codon, which is a message to STOP
translation.
This codon will be either UAA, UAG, or UGA. None of these
have a matching tRNA anticodon, so when no more tRNA’s
attach, the ribosome, protein, and mRNA detach from each other.
CRACKING THE GENETIC
CODEDNA STRAND (one gene) * Master Strand of DNA

A T G/T G C/G G C/G C T/T G A

T A C/A C G/C C G/C G A /A C T

codons
mRNA STRAND
A U G/U G C/G G C/G C U / U G A

tRNA STRAND

U A C/A C G/C C G/C G A/ A C U

anticodon
 AMINO ACID SEQUENCE

Methionine---Cysteine---Glycine---Alanine---Stop
 A BAD NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
Question: What if something goes wrong during translation?

Answer: MUTATION
• A change in the nucleotide
sequence of DNA
• When the bases (‘letters’) change, the
wrong amino acids are used to make the
protein.
• The protein will NOT be able to do its job.
There are 2 types of MUTATION:

1. Chromosomal mutations: a mutation of all or part of a chromosome.

This usually involves MANY GENES, and therefore, MANY PROTEINS.
Example: Down’s syndrome.

2. Gene mutations: a mutation that occurs within a gene at some point along a
chromosome. This mutation is only a change of 1 or a few ‘letters’ (nitrogenous bases).
It usually only affects ONE GENE, and therefore, ONE PROTEIN.
Example: Sickle cell anemia.