Nazabayev University

UPCSE

Protein synthesis

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

How does DNA code for proteins?

The sequence of bases in the DNA tells

the cell which amino acids to link together to form the protein Each gene is a sequence of bases on a DNA molecule coding for a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

Triplet code
One base does not code for one amino

acid. 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins The code carried by DNA is a three base code (Triplet code) Each adjacent group of three bases codes for an amino acid
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Triplet code
Several triplets code for the same amino

acid. Others are start and stop signals. The fundamental coding system is found in all organisms

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

From DNA to Proteins

DNA in our chromosomes carries the

genetic information from one generation to the next It determines the structure and function of cells by telling them which proteins to make

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

From DNA to proteins

But DNA is in the nucleus and proteins

are made in the cytoplasm. DNA cannot pass through the nuclear membranes.

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

How do the instructions get from the nucleus to the cytoplasm?

A copy of DNA is made.
This copy is not made from DNA but

made from RNA The RNA can leave the nucleus and carry the information to the cytoplasm where it is used to make proteins

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

Types of RNA
mRNA messenger
tRNA transfer

rRNA ribosomal

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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

Protein Synthesis
Transcription takes

place in the nucleus DNA code is copied to mRNA Translation takes place in the cytoplasm Correct sequence of amino acids are used to build a new protein
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Transcription
Takes place in the nucleus
DNA double helix unwinds Hydrogen bonds between bases break

Sequence of bases on one of the

strands (template strand) is used to produce a mRNA molecule

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Transciption
mRNA is built from free RNA nucleotides

which line up along the DNA template strand. RNA nucleotides are activated by the attachment of phosphate groups There are four different activated RNA nucleotides ATP,GTP,CTP,UTP

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Transcription
Because of complementary base pairing

the order of bases on the DNA exactly determines the order of bases on the mRNA The triplet code on the DNA gives rise to a complementary codon on the mRNA C binds with G A bind with U (not T)
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Codons, anticodons and complementary base pairing

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Transciption

Template strand (antisense strand)

because once transcribed makes an mRNA molecule with the same base sequence as the DNA coding strand Coding strand (sense)

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Transcription
Helicase breaks hydrogen bonds in DNA
RNA polymerase attaches DNA at the

promoter site The complete mRNA leaves the nucleus through a pore in the nuclear envelope

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Protein synthesis: Transcription

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Translation
After transcription the mRNA passes into

the cytoplasm and attaches itself to a ribosome In eukaryotic cells ribosomes are usually attached to endoplasmic reticulum In prokaryotes takes place as soon as mRNA is made Translation starts once the mRNA attaches to the ribosome
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Translation
Ribosomes are made up of two subunits mRNA attaches to the smaller of the subunits so that

two mRNA codons face the binding site of the larger subunit

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Translation
At one side of a tRNA molecule is a triplet base

sequence called an anticodon The three bases of the anticodon are complementary to the mRNA codon of the amino acid

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Translation
mRNA codons for lysine are AAA and

AAG Within the cytoplasm free amino acids become attached to the correct tRNA molecule Each amino acid has its own specific RNA that carries it to the ribosome

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Translation
First codon exposed on the ribosome is

always the start code AUG AUG codes for the amino acid methionine. The tRNA with the complementary anticodon is UAC hydrogen bonds to the codon. The next codon attracts the tRNA with the complementary anticodon
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Translation
The ribosome holds the mRNA, tRNA, amino acid and associated enzymes in place while a peptide bond forms between the two amino acids

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Translation
Once the peptide is formed the ribosome

moves along the mRNA to reveal anew codon at the binding site The first tRNA returns to the cytoplasm The process is repeated until the ribosome reaches a stop signal: UAA, UAC, or UGA

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Ribosome moves along the mRNA, allowing another complementary base to bind

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Nature of the genetic code

The code is non overlapping, no base of

one triplet contributes to the next triplet. 64 possible combinations of 4 bases if grouped in a triplet Several triplets can code for the same amino acid The code is therefore described as degenerative
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Protein Synthesis Pork Chop Willie

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Different proteins can be produced when different coding sections of mRNA are spliced together

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mRNA splicing
Between transcription and translation mRNA

is often edited. Some sections are removed and some are spliced together. Non-coding introns are removed. The remaining sequences which will be expressed are exons. It means several proteins can be formed from one single length mRNA spliced in different ways.
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