ZOOHCC - 501: Molecular Biology (Theory)



Unit 4: Translation 











    Protein synthesis in prokaryotes takes place in two main steps:
    transcription and translation.



    Transcription:



    The process begins when the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to the promoter
    region of a DNA molecule. The DNA double helix is ​​unwound and RNA
    polymerase synthesizes a single-stranded mRNA molecule using one of the DNA
    strands as a template. As the RNA polymerase moves along the DNA template,
    the mRNA molecule lengthens and when the termination signal is reached, the
    RNA polymerase dissociates from the DNA template. The mRNA molecules then
    exit the nucleus and translocate into the cytoplasm. translation:



    Ribosomes bind to mRNA molecules, and ribosomes read codons on the mRNA in
    order. Ribosomes recruit the appropriate tRNA molecule with the specific
    amino acid indicated by the codon. Amino acids are added to the growing
    polypeptide chain and the ribosome moves to the next codon. This process
    continues until the ribosome reaches the stop codon, at which point the
    newly synthesized polypeptide is released. In prokaryotes, transcription and
    translation can occur simultaneously because there is no nuclear envelope
    separating the two processes. Therefore, when an mRNA molecule is
    synthesized, it is immediately translated into a polypeptide chain by
    ribosomes. 



    Protein involvement



    Proteins play an important role in the process of protein synthesis in
    prokaryotes. Here are some examples.



    RNA polymerase: RNA polymerase is the protein enzyme involved in the
    transcription of DNA into RNA. It binds to the promoter regions of DNA
    molecules and catalyzes the formation of complementary strands of
    RNA. 



    Ribosome: Ribosome is a large molecular complex of RNA and protein. They
    are responsible for translating mRNA into polypeptide chains. Ribosomes have
    three distinct sites, the A site, the P site, and the E site, where tRNA
    molecules carrying specific amino acids bind and are used to assemble
    growing polypeptide chains.



    Transfer RNA (tRNA): tRNA molecules are small RNA molecules involved in the
    translation of mRNA into polypeptide chains. Each tRNA molecule carries a
    specific amino acid that is added to the growing polypeptide chain. The tRNA
    molecule also has a sequence of three nucleotides called anticodons that are
    complementary to the codons on the mRNA.



    Initiation Factors: Initiation factors are proteins involved in the
    initiation of translation. They help bring the ribosome and mRNA together
    and also help place the first tRNA molecule in the correct position in the
    mRNA.



    Release Factors: Release factors are proteins involved in the termination
    of translation. They recognize stop codons in mRNAs and release newly
    synthesized polypeptide chains from ribosomes.



    Briefly Explanation



    The process of protein synthesis in prokaryotes is a complex molecular
    process involving multiple steps including transcription and translation.
    This is the process of using the genetic information encoded in DNA to
    synthesize proteins, which are essential molecules that perform various
    functions within the cell.



    Transcription:



    The first step in protein synthesis is transcription. This is the process
    by which genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into single-stranded
    RNA molecules known as messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcription takes place in
    the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. In
    prokaryotes, transcription is initiated when the enzyme RNA polymerase binds
    to the promoter region of a DNA molecule. The DNA double helix is ​​unwound
    and RNA polymerase synthesizes a complementary strand of RNA using one of
    the DNA strands as a template. RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the
    growing mRNA molecule until it reaches a termination signal. At this point,
    RNA polymerase dissociates from the DNA template. Newly synthesized mRNA
    molecules exit the nucleus and travel to the cytoplasm.



    translation:



    The second step in protein synthesis is translation. This is the process of
    using the genetic information encoded in mRNA to synthesize proteins.
    Translation takes place in the cytoplasm of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic
    cells.



    In prokaryotes, translation may begin before transcription is complete. A
    large molecular complex of RNA and protein, the ribosome binds to the mRNA
    molecule and sequentially reads the codons on the mRNA. Ribosomes have three
    distinct sites, the A site, the P site, and the E site, where tRNA molecules
    carrying specific amino acids bind and are used to assemble growing
    polypeptide chains. Each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid that is
    added to the growing polypeptide chain. The tRNA molecule also has a
    sequence of three nucleotides called anticodons that are complementary to
    the codons on the mRNA. The ribosome moves to the next codon and adds the
    appropriate amino acids until it reaches the stop codon. Upon reaching the
    stop codon, the newly synthesized polypeptide is released from the
    ribosome.



    Regulations:



    The process of protein synthesis in prokaryotes is regulated at various
    levels. Transcription is regulated by the binding of regulatory proteins
    called transcription factors to specific DNA sequences known as enhancers
    and silencers. Transcription factors can either promote or repress gene
    transcription. Translation is regulated by several mechanisms, including the
    binding of regulatory proteins known as initiation factors to the mRNA
    molecule, which aid in the binding of the ribosome to the mRNA. Another
    regulatory mechanism is modification of the mRNA molecule itself. B. Removal
    of introns by splicing. Coding sequences can change and affect mRNA
    translation. Diploma:



    The process of protein synthesis in prokaryotes is a complex molecular
    process involving multiple steps and regulatory mechanisms. It is essential
    for the function and survival of cells and organisms. Understanding the
    process of protein synthesis in prokaryotes is important for many branches
    of biology, including genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.