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Definition: How does protein synthesis occur in the body?

Protein synthesis is the process by which cells build proteins, which are essential for various biological functions in the body. It involves the creation of new proteins from amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.

Transcription

The first step in protein synthesis is transcription. It occurs in the nucleus of the cell, where DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA). The enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a specific region of the DNA called the promoter, and it unwinds the DNA helix. The RNA polymerase then reads the DNA sequence and synthesizes a complementary mRNA strand.

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RNA Processing

After transcription, the mRNA undergoes several modifications in a process called RNA processing. This includes the removal of non-coding regions called introns and the joining together of coding regions called exons. Additionally, a modified nucleotide cap is added to the 5′ end of the mRNA, and a poly-A tail is added to the 3′ end. These modifications help protect the mRNA and facilitate its transport out of the nucleus.

Translation

The next step in protein synthesis is translation, which occurs in the cytoplasm. The mRNA leaves the nucleus and attaches to a ribosome, which serves as the site of protein synthesis. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules carry specific amino acids to the ribosome, guided by the codons on the mRNA. Each codon consists of three nucleotides and corresponds to a specific amino acid.

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During translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA codons and matches them with the appropriate tRNA molecules. The amino acids carried by the tRNA molecules are then joined together to form a polypeptide chain. This chain continues to grow until a stop codon is reached, signaling the end of protein synthesis.

Protein Folding and Modification

After translation, the newly synthesized polypeptide chain undergoes folding and modification to form a functional protein. This process is facilitated by chaperone proteins, which help the protein fold correctly into its three-dimensional structure. Additionally, various post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation or glycosylation, may occur to further modify the protein’s structure and function.

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Overall, protein synthesis is a complex and highly regulated process that is essential for the growth, repair, and functioning of cells and tissues in the body.

Keywords: protein, synthesis, process, proteins, called, translation, transcription, nucleus, specific