Biology Protein Synthesis Vocab

Amino Acid

Building blocks that join together by peptide bonds to make a protein.

Transcription

A process where the DNA code is transferred to a strand of mRNA in the nucleus so that it can be carried out to the ribosome.

Translation

A process where the code on mRNA is read and translated into amino acids that are assembled to make a protein.

Anti-codon

A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in transfer RNA that binds to a corresponding codon in messenger RNA and designates a specific amino acid during protein synthesis.

Ribosome

A simple organelle that helps manufacture proteins located in the cytoplasm and on the endoplasmic reticulum.

Polypeptide

A singular linear chain of amino acids and another term to describe a protein.

rRNA

A type of RNA that associates with proteins to form ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

tRNA

A type of RNA that transports amino acids to the ribosome.

Central Dogma

Defined by Francis crick and stating that information flows in one direction from DNA and RNA to proteins and involves the processes of replication, transcription, and translation

RNA Polymerase

Enzymes that bond nucleotides together in a chain to make a new RNA molecule. They are very large complexes and plat a variety of roles in transcription.

mRNA

Long strands of RNA nucleotides that are complementary to one strand of DNA and that carry the information to the ribosome.

Start codon

One codon that signals the start of translation and the amino acid methionine

Gene

Sections of DNA in a chromosome that controls the traits of an organism by coding for particular polypeptides or proteins.

TATA Box

Seven nucleotide promoter found in most eukaryotic cells

Protein Synthesis

The process of making proteins that involves replication , transcription, and translation.

Codon

Three base code on a mRNA strand.

Stop codon

Three codons that code for the end of an amino acid chain.