Abstract
Protein synthesis is one of the most fundamental biological processes by which
individual cells build their specific proteins. Within the process are involved both DNA
and different in their function ribonucleic acids (RNA). The process is initiated in the
cells nucleus, where specific enzymes unwind the needed section of DNA, which
makes the DNA in this region accessible and a RNA copy can be made. This RNA
molecule then moves from the nucleus to the cell cytoplasm, where the actual
the process of protein synthesis take place.
1) Nucleus: The first stage of protein synthesis occurs here. It is named Transcription.
Transcription is the synthesis of an RNA strand from a DNA template. It occurs in
three stages:
o 1. Initiation:
RNA polymerase binds to DNA at a specific sequence of
nucleotides called the promoter.
The promoter contains an initiation site where transcription of the
gene begins.
RNA polymerase than unwinds DNA at the beginning of the gene.
o 2.Elongation:
Only one of the unwound DNA strands acts as a template for the
RNA synthesis.
RNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of the
strand so like DNA, RNA must be synthesized in the 5' to 3'
direction.
Free ribonucleotides triphosphates from the cytoplasm are paired
up with their complementary base on the exposed DNA template.
RNA polymerase joins the ribonucleotide triphosphates to form an
mRNA strand.
As RNA polymerase advances, the process continues.
The DNA that has been transcribed, re-winds to form a double
helix.
o 3. Termination:
RNA polymerase continues to elongate until it reaches the
terminator, a specific sequence of nucleotides that signals the end
of transcription.
Transcription stops and mRNA polymerase and the new mRNA
transcript are released from DNA.
The DNA double helix reforms.
The termination sequence usually consists of a series of adjacent
adenines preceded by a nucleotide palindrome.
This gives an RNA molecule that assumes a stem-and loop
configuration.
This configuration stops RNA polymerase from transcribing any
further.
2) Cytoplasm: The second stage of protein synthesis occurs here. It is named
Translation.
Translation is the process in which mRNA is transformed into amino acids. It occurs in
three stages:
o 1. Initiation:
In initiation, mRNA is attached to tRNA, which
is attached to the specified amino acid.
During initiation, the mRNA, the tRNA, and the first amino acid all come together within
the ribosome. The mRNA strand remains continuous, but the true initiation point is the
start codon, AUG, or methionine.
The anticodon for AUG is UAC and because of the rules of complementary base
pairing. The tRNA with the anticodon UAC will automatically match to the codon AUG,
bringing the methionine along for the ride. So, mRNA is attached to tRNA, and tRNA is
attached to methionine. That's initiation.
o 2.Elongation:
Translation elongation is simply the ribosome travelling down the message, reading
codons and bringing in the proper aminoacyl tRNAs to translate the message out to
protein. The incoming aminoacyl tRNA is brought into the ribosome A site, where it is
matched with the codon being presented. Once it has been secured (by hydrolysis of
GTP to fix it in place), the peptidyltransferase reaction occurs. This is where the
bond between the peptide and the aminoacyl tRNA in the P site is broken, while a new
bond is simultaneously formed between the (momentarily unattached) peptide and the
new amino acid in the A site. The ribosome then moves over by 3 bases, the spent
tRNA is ejected from the E site.
3.Termination
Termination of translation occurs when the ribosome encounters a stop codon. There are slighty
different views as to what happens; some textbooks state that there is a release factor bound to
the stop codon, that displaces the ribosome when it reaches that point. Dr. Webb prefers the idea
that the stop codon is simply a codon that has no matching tRNA, so the ribosome stalls, waiting
for the next aminoacyl tRNA. This stall causes the ribosome to destabilize, and release factors
come in to disassemble the ribosome and cut free the peptide strand.
Role of golgi apparatus in protein synthesis:
