Protein Synthesis

Gene unwinds & unwraps

H bonds break between complementary nucleotide bases

RNA polymerase catalyses formation of temporary H bonds & adds free RNA nucleotide bases to complementary unpaired DNA bases (on the template strand)

Transcription

- occurs in nucleus

- involves enzymes

-production of mRNA

Length of RNA that is complementary to template strand is formed; called the coding strand

mRNA passes out of nucleus & attaches to a ribosome (rRNA)

Translation

tRNA - triplet of bases called an anticodon (complementary to those on a codon on mRNA) form temporary H bonds

On the other side of tRNA are the aa that the bases code for; as the ribosome moves along the length of mRNA the aa's form peptide bonds between them

Amino acid sequence is ultimately decided by sequence of triplets on the length of DNA

After polypeptide is assembled, mRNA breaks down. Component molecules = recycled into new lengths of mRNA w/ diff codon sequences