Protein synthesis is a critical biological process involving the transformation of genetic information into functional proteins. It starts with transcription, where DNA is transcribed into mRNA in the nucleus. This is followed by mRNA splicing, which removes non-coding sequences. Translation then takes place in the cytoplasm, where ribosomes assemble amino acids into polypeptides. Finally, post-translational modifications ensure proteins achieve their functional forms, essential for various biological roles.
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Proteins are composed of long chains of amino acids, known as polypeptides
Enzymes
Proteins function as enzymes, catalyzing chemical reactions in the body
Hormones
Proteins also function as hormones, regulating various bodily processes
Structural components
Proteins serve as structural components in cells and organisms
Protein synthesis is the process by which genetic information is used to produce proteins
Transcription is the first step in protein synthesis, where DNA is transcribed into mRNA
RNA polymerase is an enzyme that binds to DNA and assembles pre-mRNA
Splicing is the process of removing introns and joining exons to form mature mRNA
Translation is the second step in protein synthesis, where mRNA is used as a template to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain
The ribosome is a molecular machine that facilitates the assembly of amino acids during translation
After translation, proteins may undergo post-translational modifications to achieve their functional conformation and activity
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Protein composition in organisms
Proteins are made from 20 standard amino acids.
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Protein synthesis in viruses
Viruses rely on host cells to produce proteins.
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Amino acid diversity beyond human proteins
More amino acids exist in nature than the 20 used by humans.
