After leaving the nucleus, mRNA heads to a ribosome.

This begins the process of translation, when a ribosome uses the mRNA to make protein.

How does translation work?

1. The ribosome reads the mRNA 3 nucleotides at a time 1. The ribosome reads the mRNA 3 nucleotides at a time. Each group of nucleotides is called a codon. R M C Codons are like WORDS codon codon codon codon ribosome

There are 20 possible amino acids 2. Each codon calls for a specific amino acid. C A A C U G = Serine A U G = Methionine There are 20 possible amino acids G C U = Alanine U A C = Tyrosine

Transfers AA’s to the ribosome Ribosome polymerizes the AA’s 3. The amino acids are brought to the ribosome by tRNA molecules (transfer RNA). A A R T T Transfers AA’s to the ribosome Amino acid Ribosome polymerizes the AA’s A G U C U A A G G A C C tRNA codon codon codon codon ribosome

How is the correct amino acid always brought over?

Each tRNA molecule carries only one kind of amino acid. Methionine Arginine Tyrosine A U G C G A U A C

Each tRNA molecule has an anticodon which is complementary to a codon in mRNA. G C G A Anticodon codon codon codon codon ribosome

Since codons and anticodons must match, very few errors occur during translation. ribosome

Translation amino acid protein tRNA anticodon ribosome mRNA codon 1. Name of process: amino acid protein 2. 1. tRNA 3. 4. anticodon 5. ribosome 7. mRNA 6. codon Word bank: mRNA. tRNA, codon, anticodon, amino acid, protein, ribosome.

mRNA tRNA Involved in transcription, translation, or both? Main job Contains codons or anticodons?

m Ribosome

mRNA tRNA Both Translation Involved in transcription, translation, or both? Main job Contains codons or anticodons? Both Translation

m Ribosome

Carry message out of nucleus Transfer amino acids to the ribosome mRNA tRNA Involved in transcription, translation, or both? Main job Contains codons or anticodons? Both Translation Carry message out of nucleus Transfer amino acids to the ribosome Codons Anticodons

Now it’s time for you to learn how to translate mRNA into protein.

These are the letters in an mRNA codon This is a codon chart: These are the letters in an mRNA codon

These are the amino acids Their names are abbreviated This is a codon chart: These are the amino acids Their names are abbreviated Serine = Ser

This chart can be used to translate mRNA into a protein.

Say you have the codon U A C = Tyr (tyrosine)

Say you have the codon C G A = Arg (Arginine)

Say you have the codon G U U = Val (Valine)

Say you have the codon A C A = Thr (Threonine)

Translate the mRNA into protein: C U A G A G C C U Leu Glu Pro

Transcribe the DNA into mRNA. Then, translate the mRNA into protein: G T A C G T G U G C A U G C A C Cys Met His