Protein Synthesis (3D)
Transcription and translation from DNA to functional protein
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How it works
Protein synthesis has two stages. Transcription occurs in the nucleus: RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand 3'→5' and synthesizes mRNA 5'→3', using complementary base pairing (A→U, T→A, G→C, C→G). The mRNA is processed (5' cap, poly-A tail, intron removal) and exported to the cytoplasm. Translation occurs at ribosomes: mRNA codons (3-nucleotide sequences) are read 5'→3'. Each codon is matched by a tRNA anticodon carrying the specified amino acid. Peptide bonds form between adjacent amino acids. Translation starts at AUG (methionine) and ends at a stop codon (UAA, UAG, UGA). Mutations can alter the protein: substitution may change one amino acid (missense) or create a stop (nonsense), while insertion/deletion causes a frameshift affecting all downstream amino acids.
Step-by-step
- Watch the 3D animation of transcription and translation.
- Introduce different mutations to observe their effects on the final protein sequence.
- Compare normal vs mutant proteins.
Key formulas
- The central dogma of molecular biology
Frequently asked questions
- What happens to the protein if the third codon is changed from GGC to GGU?
- Both GGC and GGU code for glycine — this is a silent/synonymous mutation with no effect on the protein.
- Why are frameshift mutations usually more harmful than substitutions?
- A frameshift changes every codon downstream of the mutation, altering the entire amino acid sequence from that point on.