DNA, RNA, ATP,

and Protein
Synthesis
Hope Arana & Najae Reynolds
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is one of the
two kinds of nucleic acids (along with RNA)
that is found in the nucleus of the cell. It is
constructed of nucleotides that consist of
four bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, or
thymine), deoxyribose, and a phosphate
group. In the nucleotides, genetic
information can be found.
★ DNA Fun Fact: Every human being
shares 99% of their DNA with every
other human.
In the human body, our DNA holds our
genes, which determine which traits we
inherit, such as our hair and eye color. Genes
also control all the activities that take place
in our cells throughout a lifetime.
Structural characteristics of DNA:
● The molecule consists of two strands
that have crossbars. The strands twist
around each other to form a double
helix.
● The uprights, or strands, of the DNA
ladder consist of alternating
phosphate groups and the
deoxyribose portions of the
nucleotides.
● The rungs of the ladder contain paired
nitrogenous bases, which are held
together by hydrogen bonds. Adenine
always pairs with thymine, and
cytosine always pairs with guanine.
RNA

Ribonucleic acid, or RNA, is a copied from a

specific region of DNA (making it single
stranded unlike DNA) and its purpose is to
synthesise a protein. It is constructed by
nucleotides that consists of four bases:
cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil.
★ Fun fact: About 5% of the weight
of a human cell is RNA.
In the human body, RNA carries out the
instructions encoded in DNA for protein
synthesis.
There are three types of RNA:
● Messenger RNA- directs synthesis to
the protein
● Ribosomal RNA- joins the ribosomal
proteins to make ribosomes
● Transfer RNA -binds to an amino acid
and holds it place with the ribosome to
make a protein during translation
ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is the The energy-transferring reaction occurs

“energy currency”of living organisms. ATP when there is an addition of a water
transfers energy from energy-releasing to molecule liberates energy, removing the
energy-requiring reactions reactions that phosphate group leaving over the molecule
maintain cellular activities adenosine diphosphate or ADP

Structurally ATP consists of three

phosphate groups attached to adenosine, ★ Fun fact: ATP is required for the
which is composed of adenine and ribose. biochemical reactions involved in
any muscle contraction.
Protein Synthesis
Protein Synthesis starts with DNA and RNA. In
DNA, there are genes that provide instructions
for making proteins. In order to synthesis a
protein, the information contained in a specific
region of DNA is first transcribed, or copied, to
make a specific molecule of RNA. The RNA
attaches itself to a ribosome, where the
information contained in the RNA is translated
into a corresponding specific sequence of
amino acids to form a new protein molecule.

★ Fun fact: Protein synthesis progresses at

a rate of about 15 amino acids per
second.

In the human body, the proteins that are made

during protein synthesis determine the
physical and chemical characteristics of cells
and, on a larger scale, of organisms.