What is protein synthesis?

Protein synthesis is a biological process in which cells produce proteins. Proteins are essential for almost all cellular functions – they can act as enzymes, structural proteins, hormones, immune antibodies, transport molecules and much more. The process of protein synthesis consists of two main steps: transcription and translation.

Transcription: During transcription, the information stored in a specific section of DNA (the gene) is converted into a form that can be exported from the cell nucleus (where the DNA is stored). This is achieved through the formation of messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries a copy of the DNA’s genetic code. The mRNA is produced by an enzyme called RNA polymerase, which moves along the DNA strand and forms an mRNA chain that is complementary to the DNA strand.

Translation: During translation, the information stored in the mRNA is used to form a protein. This takes place in the ribosomes, the cell’s protein factories. Each set of three nucleotides in the mRNA – a codon – corresponds to a specific amino acid (the building blocks of proteins). tRNA molecules (transfer RNA) recognise and bind to the codons and carry the corresponding amino acids. The amino acids are then linked together in the order specified by the mRNA to form a chain, which eventually folds into a functional protein.

Protein synthesis is therefore the process by which the genetic information stored in DNA is used to produce proteins. These proteins are of crucial importance for the functioning of the cell and for all life processes in the body.