Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Protein synthesis is the biological process by which cells generate new proteins. It involves transcription of DNA into mRNA and translation of mRNA into a polypeptide chain.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Translation occurs in the ribosome where mRNA is decoded to produce a specific polypeptide.
tRNA molecules play a crucial role by bringing amino acids to the ribosome during translation.
The process starts with the initiation phase, followed by elongation, and ends with termination.
Codons, sequences of three nucleotides on mRNA, specify which amino acid will be added next during protein synthesis.
Post-translational modifications may occur after protein synthesis to ensure proper protein function.