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
Directions: On your sheet of paper, match each definition to the
correct term
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
DNA
mRNA
codon
tRNA
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
Click here to continue
The first step of Protein synthesis is called Transcription. Click on the organelle
where transcription takes place in eukaryotic cells
Mitochondria
Rough E.R.
Golgi Apparatus
Smooth E.R.
Nucleus
Mitochondria
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 2
Chromosome 3
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)
GCGCGCGTACAGGAAAGCCACAAGTTGTGATAGCGGGCGCATATTATCCTGCATCCGGTTTC
Once you are done with transcription
Click 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 transcription
Click 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 transcription
Click 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
Rough E.R.
Golgi Apparatus
Smooth E.R.
Nucleus
Mitochondria
Ribosomes
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.
GUC
UGG
GAA
AAU
GAG
AGG
AGU
GAU
CCC
GGA
AGC
GAC
AUA
CAG
GGG
GGC
CCA
UGC
UCA
CUG
UUA
UUC
ACG
CAA
CUA
AAG
ACC
GUA
CCU
UCU
GCC
CCG
AUC
UCG
GCU
UUU
GUU
AGA
CAU
GCG
ACA
GUG
CGG
AUG
GCA
ACU
UCC
UAG
AAA
UGU
UGA
CGU
CGC
AUU
CAC
CGA
UAC
UAU
CUC
AAC
CUU
GGU
UUG
UAA
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
NOPE
Click 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
NOPE
Click 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