Polypeptide Synthesis
By Manu & Kyanna
Let's get down in the Ribosome
Where it all ENDSsssss
- Once the last amino acid is added, the chain folds into the protein.
Let's party in the Cytoplasm aka Translation
- The mRNA is read 3 bases at a time.
- When each set of bases is read, a tRNA delivers the corresponding amino acid.
- This is added to a growing chain of amino acids.
- Protein factories called ribosomes in the cytoplasm bind to the mRNA.
- Ribosomes read the code in the mRNA to produce an amino acid chain. (Fun fact, 20 different types of amino acids exist)
- The amino acids are transferred to the ribosomes by tRNA (transfer RNA).
RNA Polymerase Gets Involved aka Transcription
- When a gene is switched on, an enzyme aka RNA Polymerase attaches to the beginning of the gene.
- It moves along the DNA making a strand of mRNA (messenger RNA) out of free bases in the nucleus.
Chromosomes (wHeRe It AlL bEgInS)
- Chromosomes consist of a long DNA strand containing Histones.
- In the DNA, there are also genes (in which instructions on making proteins are stored)
mRNA moves around a bit
- Before mRNA can be used to produce proteins, it needs to be processed which includes adding sections of RNA.
- The mRNA moves out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm.