1. Protein
Synthesi
s
Process

2. There are different steps in making a
protein. The first step in building an
amino acid chain is called
transcription. This process takes place
within the nucleus of a cell. During this
process an enzyme called RNA
Polymerase binds to a DNA strand.

3. To bind to the DNA it begins in
an area called the promoter
region. Once the RNA
Polymerase is bound to the DNA
strand it then begins to unwind
the DNA, reading the the DNA
nucleotides. While reading the
DNA strand the RNA Polymerase
synthesizes a single mRNA
strand.

4. Once at the end of the DNA strand
the RNA Polymerase breaks off. It is
no longer needed for the rest of the
protein synthesis process. The DNA
strand is then reattached in the
double helix structure that it
originally was in.

5. The newly formed mRNA strand is the
messenger RNA that carries the
genetic code of DNA. It leaves the
nucleus of the cell through a nuclear
pore. The strand is now in the
cytoplasm. This is where the next
stage, translation, takes place.

6. In this stage no enzymes are
needed. Instead there are different
molecules that are used. Ribosomes
and tRNA are both needed for this
step.

7. A ribosome attaches to the mRNA
strand at the start codon. tRNA carries
an amino acid and anticodons. The
tRNA carries an anticodon and amino
acid to the corresponding nucleotides
on the mRNA strand.

8. Two tRNA molecules are
working in the ribosome at
once. Once the third tRNA
comes, the first one leaves,
leaving behind the amino acid it
carries and taking the
anticodon. The amino acid
bonds to the amino acid on
another tRNA with a peptide
bond.

9. The process continues. Once the ribosome
reaches the stop codon, the process is
over. There isn’t a tRNA for the stop
codon, therefore there isn’t an amino acid
that comes from it. The process simply just
ends. The ribosome breaks off of the
mRNA strand. The mRNA strand, the
ribosome and the tRNA molecules are no
longer needed.

10. Now all that is left is a
polypeptide chain, formed by
all the amino acids that linked
together. The last step in
protein synthesis is the folding
of the polypeptide chain into a
tertiary structure.

11. Observe the following steps to get a
better understanding of protein
synthesis process.

12. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

13. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

14. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

15. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

16. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

17. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

18. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

19. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

20. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

21. Nucleus
Cytoplasm

22. Nucleus

23. DNA
Nucleus

24. T
A A
C T
C G
T G
A A
T
C
G G
T
C
G A
T C
A
G
A C
T T
A
C
G
DNA
G
T
G
C
A
C
C
G
C
T
A
A
G
T
A
T
G
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G
T
A
T
A
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
G
T
G
C
A
T
T
C
A
C
G
A
T
A
Nucleus

25. T
A
T
DNA
T
C
A
G
A
A
T
C
T
C
G
T
A
G
T
C
C
A
A
A
T
G
G
G
C
Nucleus
C
G
C
A
A
T
C
C
G
T
A
A
G
T
G
T
C
C
A
C
A
C
C
G
T
T
A
G
G
T
G
T A
G
A
T
A T
C G
C G
A
T
A T
C
C
A
G
T
T
C
A
C
G
A
G
T
T
A
G

26. T
A A
C T
C
G
T
G
A
A
T
C
G
G
T
C
A
G
T
C
A
G
A
C
T
T
A
C
G
G
A
A
T
C
G
C
T
A
A
G
T
G
T
C
A
T
G
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G
G
C
T
A
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
C
A
T
T
C
A
C
G
A
G
T
T
A
DNA
Nucleus

27. DNA
G
G
A
T
T
C
A
A
T
C
G
T
A
G
C
C
Nucleus
G
A
C
T
C
G
C
T
A
A
G
T
G
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G
G
T
G
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
A
C
C
A
T
T
C
A
C
G
A
G
T
T
A
C
T
A
T
G
G
A

28. DNA
A
T
T
A
C
C
G
G
A
G
T
A
C
C
T
G
A
C
T
G
C
A
G
T
T
A
A
G
T
C
Codon
Codon
Codon
Codon
Codon

29. Promoter Region
RNA Polymerase
A
T
T
A
C
G
A
G
T
G
T
G
C
A
T
A
T
C
A
C
A
C
G
T
A
G
T
G
C
C

30. Promoter Region
RNA Polymerase
A
T
T
A
C
G
A
G
T
G
T
G
C
A
T
A
T
C
A
C
A
C
G
T
A
G
T
G
C
C

31. Promoter Region
T
A
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
RNA
Polymeras
e
A
T
G
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G

32. mRNA Strand
Promoter Region
A
T
A
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
RNA
Polymeras
e
G
U
T
A
G
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G

33. mRNA Strand
Promoter Region
G
U
G
A
G
T
T
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
A
U
RNA
Polymeras
e
A
A
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G

34. U
mRNA Strand
G
A
Promoter Region
G
G U
C
T
T
A
A
G
T
T
C
A
G
C
C
G
T
G
T
G
T
C
A
A
A
RNA
Polymeras
e
A
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G

35. mRNA Strand
U
G
A
Promoter Region
G
C
A
G U
A
A
T
T
A
A
G
T
T
G
A
G
A
C
C
A
C
T
C
A
C
T
A
G
G
G
T
G
A
T
C
RNA
Polymeras
e
C
C
C

36. U
mRNA Strand
A
G
Promoter Region
G
A
C
G U
A
C
A
T
T
T
T
A
G
A
C
C
G
G
A
C
T
C
C
G
A
G
A
G
C
T
A
G
T
G
A
T
C
RNA
Polymeras
e
A
C
A U

37. U
mRNA Strand
A
G
Promoter Region
G
A
C
G U
A
C
A
T
T
T
T
A
G
A
C
C
G
G
A
C
T
C
C
G
A
G
ras
A
G
C
T
A
G
T
G
A
T
C
A
C
A U

38. U
mRNA Strand
A
G
Promoter Region
G
A
C
G U
A
C
T
T
A
T
A
G
T
C
C
A
G
A
G
T
C
C
G
A
C
T
G
A
T
C
A
C
A U
G
A
G
C
T
A
G

39. mRNA Strand
G
A
U C
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
U A
Promoter Region
A
T
T
A
G
A
C
T
T
G
A
G
C
C
C
A
G
T
C
A
G
T
T
A
A
C
T
G
G
C

40. mRNA Strand
G
A
U C
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
U A
A
T
T
A
C
G
A
G
T
G
T
G
C
A
T
A
T
C
A
C
A
C
G
T
A
G
T
G
C
C

41. mRNA Strand
G
A
U C
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
U A
A
T
T
A
C
G
A
G
T
G
T
G
C
A
T
A
T
C
A
C
A
C
G
T
A
G
T
G
C
C

42. mRNA Strand
G
A
U C
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
U A
A
T
T
A
C
G
C
A
T
C
G
T
A
G
G
A
C
T
A
G
T
A
T
C
A
C
T
G
G
C

43. A
C
A U
G U
C
A
C
G
A
A
U
G
G
A
T
T
A
C
G
A
G
T
G
T
G
C
A
T
A
T
C
A
C
A
C
G
T
A
G
T
G
C
C

44. U
A
G
C
A U
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
Nucleus
C
G
A
T
G
T
C
G
T
A
C
C
T
A
T
G
C
A
G
C
A
G
A
T
T
G
A
C
T
A
Cytoplasm

45. T
A A
C T
C G
T G
A A
T
C
G G
T
C
G A
T C
A
G
A C
T T
A
C
A
G
C
A U
A
G
C
A
C
G U
A
G
Nucleus
G
T
G
C
A
C
C
G
C
T
A
A
G
T
A
T
G
G
A
T
G
C
A
C
A
C
T
A
G
T
A
T
A
C
C
T
A
C
G
T
G
T
G
A
T
C
G
T
G
C
A
T
T
C
A
C
G
A
T
A
G
U
Cytoplasm

46. U
A
G
C
A U
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
Nucleus
G
Cytoplasm

47. Nuclear Pore
U
A
G
Nucleus
C
A U
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
Cytoplasm

48. Nuclear Pore
Nucleus
G
A U C A C
A
C
G
G U
U
A
A G
Cytoplasm

49. Nuclear Pore
Nucleus
G
A U C A C
A
C
G
G U
U
A
A G
Cytoplasm

50. Nuclear Pore
Nucleus
G
A U
C A C
A
C
G
U
A G
G
U
A
Cytoplasm

51. Nuclear Pore
Nucleus
G
A U
C A C
A
C
G
U
A G
G
Cytoplasm
U
A

52. Nucleus
Nuclear Pore
A
G
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
U
G
A
G
A
Cytoplasm

53. Nucleus
Nuclear Pore
A
G
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
U
G
G
A
A
Cytoplasm

54. Nucleus
G
A
U C
Nuclear Pore
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
U
A
Cytoplasm

55. Nucleus
Nuclear Pore
G
A
U C
A
C
A
C
G U
A
G
G
U
Cytoplasm
A

56. Nucleus
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
A
Cytoplasm
G
U
G
A

57. Nucleus
G
A
Cytoplasm
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
A
G
U
G
A
Cytoplasm

58. Nucleus
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
A
G
U
G
A
Cytoplasm

59. Nucleus
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
A
G
U
G
A
Cytoplasm

60. Nucleus
Ribosomes
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
A
G
U
G
A
Cytoplasm

61. Nucleus
Ribosomes
Cytoplasm
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
A
G
G
U
A

62. Ribosomes
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
Cytoplasm
A
G
G
U
A

63. Ribosomes
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
Cytoplasm
A
G
G
U
A

64. Ribosomes
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
Cytoplasm
A
G
G
U
A

65. Ribosomes
G
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
Cytoplasm
A
G
G
U
A

66. Ribosomes
A
G
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
Cytoplasm
U
G
G
A
A

67. G
Ribosomes
A
U
C
A
C
A
C
G
U
U
G
G
A
Cytoplasm
A

68. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

69. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Large Subunit
Small Subunit
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

70. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

71. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

72. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

73. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Amino Acid
tRNA
CAU
Anticodon
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

74. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
CAU
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

75. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
CAU
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

76. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
CAU
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

77. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

78. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
AUC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

79. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
AUC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

80. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
AUC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

81. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
AUC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

82. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
AUC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

83. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A U
C U A
G
AUC
A C G
Codon
U
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

84. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A U
C U A
G
AUC
A C G
Codon
U
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

85. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
AUC
U
A U
C U A
G
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

86. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

87. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
UGC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

88. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
UGC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

89. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
UGC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

90. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
UGC
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

91. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
UGC
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

92. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
UGC
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
A U
C U A
G
Start
Codon

93. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
UGC
A C G
Codon
CAU
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

94. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
CAU
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

95. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon
CAU

96. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon
CAU

97. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon
CA

98. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

99. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

100. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

101. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
GUG
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

102. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
GUG
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
A U C
U
A G
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon

103. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
GUG
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
U G C
A C G
Codon
AUC
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

104. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
U G C
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
AUC
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

105. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
U G C
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
A G
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon
AUC

106. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
U G C
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
A G
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon
AUC

107. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
U G C
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
A G
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
Start
Codon
A

108. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
U G C
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

109. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
U G C
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

110. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
UGC
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

111. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
UGC
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

112. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
UGC
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

113. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
UGC
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

114. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon
UGC

115. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon
U

116. Ribosome
Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U G U G A C G
C A C
U
Stop
Codon
Codon
Codon
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

117. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
GUG
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

118. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
GUG
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

119. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
GUG
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

120. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
G
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

121. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

122. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

123. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

124. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

125. Cytoplasm
Ribosome
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
Peptide Bond
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

126. Cytoplasm
Peptide Bond
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

127. Cytoplasm
Polypeptide Chain
G
A U
C A C
Stop
Codon
Codon
A C G
Codon
Peptide Bond
U
G U A
A G
Codon
Start
Codon

133. Polypeptide Chain in Tertiary Structure
Protein

134. The End