RNA & Protein Synthesis

Protein

• A polypeptide (many many pieces)

• “polypeptide” a chain of many amino acids linked together

• Created by DNA and RNA• Created on the ribosome in the

cell• Each protein has its own amino

acid

Amino Acids

• What proteins are made of

RNA• Ribonucleic acid (RNA) differs from DNA in the

following ways:• RNA contains the nitrogenous base uracil instead of

thymine.• RNA contains ribose instead of deoxyribose.• RNA is single-stranded.• RNA carries the genetic information found in DNA in

the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.• RNA comes in three forms (messenger, transfer,

ribosomal), all of which are involved in translating the genetic information into the amino acid sequence of proteins.

Uracil (U)

• Instead of Thymine (T), RNA contains uracil.

• It pairs with Adenine as well

Helper

• You are single• “You” stands for “u”• RNA has uracil• “Are” stands for R• RNA has ribose sugar• “single” refers to RNA being SINGLE stranded

RNA vs. DNA

mRNAmessenger RNA

• Brings instructions from DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm and onto a ribosome.

rRNAribosomal RNA

• Ribosome binds to the mRNA• mRNA gives rRNA instructions• rRNA assembles the amino acids in the correct

order

tRNAtransfer RNA

• Delivers amino acids to the ribosome to be assembled into a protein

Transcription

• Results in one single stranded RNA.• See figure 11.7 (provided)• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsofH466

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• You could say that a protein is made up of an alphabet of amino acids

Amino Acid

• 20 different kinds of amino acids• mRNA only contains 4 types of bases• How can four bases form a code for all

possible proteins?