Final answer:
Protein synthesis is the process by which cells create proteins, involving transcription of DNA to mRNA in the nucleus and translation of mRNA to a polypeptide chain in the cytoplasm, with the aid of tRNA and ribosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Protein Synthesis Definition
Protein synthesis is a biological process critical for the growth and function of cells within all living organisms. The two main stages of protein synthesis are transcription and translation. During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is transcribed to produce a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule in the nucleus. This mRNA strand carries the genetic code from DNA to the cytoplasm of the cell, where translation occurs. In translation, the sequence of the mRNA is decoded by a ribosome to synthesize a polypeptide chain, which will fold into a functional protein. tRNAs play a vital role by bringing the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome in accordance with the codons on the mRNA template. Each tRNA molecule matches its specific amino acid to the corresponding mRNA codon, ensuring the protein is assembled correctly.
The complexity of protein synthesis lies in its requirement for various cellular components, such as mRNA, ribosomes, tRNA, and numerous enzymes. It comprises the bulk of a cell's energy expenditure due to the essential role proteins play in cellular structure and function. Notably, protein synthesis is mostly similar across different species, demonstrating the universal aspects of this fundamental biological mechanism.