Final answer:
Protein synthesis starts at the N-terminal and is elongated at the C-terminal end with the addition of amino acids. Understanding this concept is key to grasping how proteins are formed in cells, which is fundamental to biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
During this process, a polypeptide chain forms as more amino acids are added. The N-terminal end has a free amino group, while the C-terminal end has a free carboxyl group. The series of reactions involve different phases such as initiation, where the amino acid methionine starts the polypeptide chain, elongation where the polypeptide chain grows, and termination where the complete polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome. After translation, post-translational modifications may occur, which are essential for the protein to become fully functional.