Protein Synthesis Lab

Click Here to Begin Your Lab

Background

• Welcome to the CELL. Many process occur regularly that keep the CELL alive. Of these processes, one of the most important is a process called “Protein Synthesis.” It is this process that uses the information stored in DNA to create the CELL’S proteins. Click here to continue

Warm-up

1. DNA2. mRNA3. codon4. tRNA5. Ribosome

- Brings the amino acids to the ribosome- Assembles the protein by combining

amino acids- Stores the information on how to make

the various proteins of the body.- Is a copy of a gene that can leave the

nucleus later to be read by a ribosome.- Equals 3 bases, also equals 1 amino acid

Directions: On your sheet of paper, match each definition to the correct term

Click here to continue

Mitochondria

The first step of Protein synthesis is called Transcription. Click on the organelle where transcription takes place in eukaryotic cells

Mitochondria

Golgi Apparatus

Nucleus

Smooth E.R.

Rough E.R.

Ribosomes

Step 1: Transcription• Transcription is the first step of protein synthesis. This

step takes place in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Segments of DNA called genes store the information on the proper order of amino acids to construct the cells proteins. Click on one of the chromosomes to see what genes they contain. Once you have finished with all 3 chromosomes, click here to answer the final lab questions.

Chromosome 1 Chromosome 3Chromosome 2

Chromosome 1

• DNA is too valuable to allow it to leave the nucleus, so the cell copies it into the form of mRNA. Messenger RNA can then take this information out of the nucleus to the ribosomes to make the proteins.

• Directions: You need to transcribe the DNA message below into the form of mRNA on your paper. Also write down what Chromosome you are working on. (Click here to review Base Pairing Rules)

GCGCGCGTACAGGAAAGCCACAAGTTGTGATAGCGGGCGCATATTATCCTGCATCCGGTTTCOnce you are done with transcriptionClick here to move to translation

Chromosome 2

• DNA is too valuable to allow it to leave the nucleus, so the cell copies it into the form of mRNA. Messenger RNA can then take this information out of the nucleus to the ribosomes to make the proteins.

• Directions: You need to transcribe the DNA message below into the form of mRNA on your paper. Also write down what Chromosome you are working on. (Click here to review Base Pairing Rules)

CCGGAATCTACTAGTATTTCTAGGGTCTTACGAAACTCCGTCCCGTCATTCGTGCTATCCGA

Once you are done with transcriptionClick here to move to translation

Chromosome 3

• DNA is too valuable to allow it to leave the nucleus, so the cell copies it into the form of mRNA. Messenger RNA can then take this information out of the nucleus to the ribosomes to make the proteins.

• Directions: You need to transcribe the DNA message below into the form of mRNA on your paper. Also write down what Chromosome you are working on. (Click here to review Base Pairing Rules)

CTGCGCAACCTACCCTAAACTCGACTTTCATAGGAAAGACTTTCACATCGCCAGCATCC

Once you are done with transcriptionClick here to move to translation

Step 2: Translation

• Translation is the second step in protein synthesis. Here, the mRNA is read by the ribosome by matching up codons to amino acids.

• Directions: Use your mRNA and click on the codons to see what the amino acids are. Write down the amino acids on your paper.

Click here to begin Translation

Messenger RNA now leaves the nucleus. To begin translation click on the organelle that reads the mRNA and makes the protein.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria

Golgi Apparatus

Nucleus

Smooth E.R.

Rough E.R.

Ribosomes

AAA

AAU

AAG

AAC

GAA

GAG

GAU

GAC

CAACAC

CAU

CAG

UAA

UAG

UAU UAC

AGA

AGG

AGU

AGCGGA

GGG

GGU

GGC

CGA

CGG

CGU

CGC

AUA

AUG

AUU

AUC

UGU

UGC

UGG

UGA

GUC

GUU

GUG

GUA

CUA

CUG

CUU

CUC

UUA

UUG

UUU

UUC

ACA

ACG

ACU

ACC

GCA GCG

GCU

GCC

CCACCGCCC

CCU

UCU

UCG

UCA

UCC

Directions: Below are mRNA codons. Using your transcribed gene from the first part of the lab, click on the various codons to see what the amino acids are for each. Write the amino acids down in the proper order until you come to the stop codon. The amino acids in this lab are represented by words and linked together to make sentences (proteins). (Note: some codons may be used more than once). Once you have finished putting your protein together, click here.

YOU

WHAT

FIND

DO

NOT

BECOME

EVEN

I

ACT

COME

FORWARD

BUT

STOP CODON

THIS IS THE END OF YOUR PROTEIN (SENTENCE)

SHINE

STARS

ON

TO

THEIR

LET

WHEN

HAPPINESS

SINGULAR

MORE

COURAGE

HABIT

IN

PREPARE

YOUR

THEM

STOP

This is NOT a stop codon. This is a word in the sentence.

THE

EXCELLENCE

ARE

START CODON

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PROTEIN (SENTENCE)

OVER

WE

FIND

REMEMBER

CAN

FACE

OF

SOMETHING

LUCKIER

ABSENCE

DOING

AS

IS

FROM

NIGHTS

BRIGHTEST

ABILITY

MOVING

A

THAT

CANNOT

FEARS

REPEATEDLY

FALL

AN

LIVES

DARKEST

OUR

STILL

IT

NOPEClick Here to Try Again

NO!!!Click Here to Try Again

What are you thinking?!!Click Here to Try Again

Are you guessing now?Click Here to Try Again

Yes!!Transcription occurs in the Nucleus of Eukaryotic cells.

Genes found in the DNA are copied into the form of mRNA. Once it is made, mRNA leaves the nucleus to

begin step 2 of protein synthesis (translation)

Click Here to Continue

NOPEClick Here to Try Again

NO!!!Click Here to Try Again

What are you thinking?!!Click Here to Try Again

Are you guessing now?Click Here to Try Again

Yes!!Translation of mRNA to make a protein happens at the

ribosomes. In Eukaryotic cells some ribosomes are found floating in the cytoplasm, while some

ribosomes are attached to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum.

Click Here to Continue

Base Pairing Rules for Transcription

• Transcription makes mRNA using a DNA gene as a template. As such, transcription follows basic base pairing rules. Those rules are listed below and must be memorized for your test.

T in DNA bonds with A in RNA G in DNA bonds with C in RNA C in DNA bonds with G in RNA A in DNA bonds with U in RNA

Return to Chromosome 1

Return to Chromosome 2

Return to Chromosome 3

Lab Questions

Directions: On your lab paper, answer the following questions using complete sentences.

1. What are the 2 steps of Protein Synthesis?2. What do we call three mRNA bases that code for

an amino acid?3. Where does transcription and translation occur?4. What are the base pairing rules for

transcription?Click here once you have finished

Congratulations!!

You have completed your Virtual Protein Synthesis Lab.

Don’t forget to turn your paper in for credit