Final answer:
Protein synthesis involves transcription, where RNA polymerase constructs mRNA from DNA, followed by translation at a ribosome, where the mRNA is turned into a protein, which is then modified and transported within the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Protein synthesis, a vital biological process, encompasses several intricate steps, starting with transcription and concluding with translation and post-translation modifications. During transcription, the enzyme RNA polymerase assembles a single-stranded mRNA based on the DNA template. This mRNA is processed with a 5' cap and a poly-A tail to protect it from degradation.
Translation occurs when the processed mRNA reaches the ribosome, where tRNA molecules bring amino acids to form a polypeptide chain. The ribosome facilitates the correct addition of each amino acid in sequence dictated by the mRNA codons. Once synthesized, the protein undergoes folding and may be further modified in the endoplasmic reticulum followed by tagging in the Golgi apparatus. The finished protein is then distributed via a vesicle to its destination inside or outside of the cell.