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Protein Biosynthesis (Translation)
Protein biosynthesis is the process by which the genetic information encoded in mRNA is decoded to synthesize a specific polypeptide chain. It requires ribosomes, tRNAs, mRNA, and numerous protein factors, and proceeds through four major phases: activation (aminoacyl-tRNA formation), initiation, elongation, and termination, followed by post-translational processing.
Overview: From DNA to Protein
Fig. Complete overview of protein synthesis - from transcription in the nucleus to translation at the rER (Histology: A Text and Atlas, 9e)
The genetic code is first transcribed in the nucleus: DNA → pre-mRNA → mature mRNA (after splicing of introns, 5' methylguanosine capping [M(7)GPPP], and 3' poly-A tail addition). The mRNA travels to the cytoplasm where translation occurs. A single mRNA molecule is read simultaneously by many ribosomes (forming a polysome or polyribosome), spaced as close as 80 nucleotides apart, enormously amplifying output. - Histology: A Text and Atlas, 9e
Phase 1: Activation - Aminoacyl-tRNA Formation
Before translation can begin, each amino acid must be covalently attached to its specific tRNA - a process called aminoacylation or charging.
Enzyme: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (one specific enzyme per amino acid; 20 synthetases total)
Reaction (two steps):
- Step 1 - Activation: Amino acid + ATP → Aminoacyl-AMP-enzyme complex + PPi (pyrophosphate)
- Cleavage of a high-energy bond of ATP provides energy
- Pyrophosphatase cleaves PPi, driving the reaction forward
- Step 2 - Transfer: Aminoacyl-AMP + tRNA → Aminoacyl-tRNA + AMP
- The amino acid is linked via an ester bond to the 2'- or 3'-OH of the ribose at the 3'-terminal A of tRNA (all tRNAs end in -CCA)
Net energy cost: 2 high-energy bonds (equivalent to 2 ATP)
Proofreading: Each synthetase has an editing site. If the wrong amino acid is attached to the tRNA, it is hydrolysed and the process is retried - this is the first fidelity checkpoint in translation. - Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e
Recognition: Some synthetases recognise tRNA via the anticodon; others use nucleotide sequences elsewhere in the tRNA (so-called "identity elements").
Phase 2: Initiation
The ribosome assembles around the mRNA at the start codon.
Fig. Eukaryotic translation initiation complex assembly (Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e)
In Eukaryotes (80S ribosomes):
| Step | Event |
|---|
| 1 | Met-tRNA(i)^Met forms complex with eIF2-GTP |
| 2 | This complex binds the small 40S subunit (aided by eIF3, which also blocks premature 60S joining) |
| 3 | The 5' cap of mRNA is recognised by the eIF4F complex (comprising eIF4E, eIF4A, eIF4G) |
| 4 | mRNA + eIF4F binds to the 40S-Met-tRNAi complex; ATP hydrolysis (helicase activity of eIF4A) unwinds secondary structures |
| 5 | The complex scans 5'→3' until it finds the AUG start codon within the Kozak consensus sequence (A/G-CCAUGG) |
| 6 | GTP is hydrolysed → eIFs released → 60S subunit joins → complete 80S ribosome |
| 7 | Met-tRNA(i)^Met sits in the P site; the A site is empty and positioned at the second codon |
In Prokaryotes (70S ribosomes):
- 70S ribosome = 30S + 50S subunits
- mRNA is not capped; instead a purine-rich Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence upstream of AUG base-pairs with complementary sequence at the 3'-end of 16S rRNA in the 30S subunit
- Only 3 initiation factors (IF1, IF2, IF3) required (vs. 12+ in eukaryotes)
- Initiating amino acid is N-formylmethionine (fMet), not simple methionine
Ribosome Sites:
- A site (Aminoacyl) - incoming aminoacyl-tRNA
- P site (Peptidyl) - tRNA carrying the growing polypeptide chain
- E site (Exit/Ejection) - discharged tRNA leaves here
Regulation of Initiation:
- Insulin activates eIF4E by phosphorylating 4E-binding protein (4E-BP), releasing eIF4E to stimulate general protein synthesis
- Starvation, heat shock, viral infection activate kinases that phosphorylate eIF2 → inactivates it → blocks translation initiation
- Heme in reticulocytes: heme deficiency leads to phosphorylation of eIF2 → reduced globin synthesis (elegant feedback ensuring globin and heme are balanced) - Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e
Phase 3: Elongation
Each elongation cycle adds one amino acid to the growing polypeptide. Three sub-steps repeat cyclically:
Fig. Elongation cycle showing A, P, E sites and peptidyl transferase activity (Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e)
Step 1: Aminoacyl-tRNA binding to A site
- The aminoacyl-tRNA complementary to the mRNA codon in the A site arrives as a complex with eEF1A-GTP (prokaryotic equivalent: EF-Tu-GTP)
- The ribosome activates the GTPase activity of eEF1A → GTP hydrolysed to GDP + Pi → eEF1A-GDP dissociates → aminoacyl-tRNA released into A site
- Second fidelity checkpoint: If the wrong aminoacyl-tRNA arrives, GTPase activation does not occur and the complex leaves, preventing misincorporation
Step 2: Peptide bond formation
- Peptidyl transferase catalyses formation of a peptide bond between:
- The amino group of the aminoacyl-tRNA in the A site
- The carbonyl of the peptidyl-tRNA in the P site
- The polypeptide chain is transferred from the P site tRNA to the A site aminoacyl-tRNA
- Peptidyl transferase is a ribozyme - the catalytic activity resides in the 23S rRNA (prokaryotes) / 28S rRNA (eukaryotes) of the large ribosomal subunit - this is the enzymatic activity of RNA itself
- Energy: the energy in the aminoacyl-tRNA ester bond is used; no additional ATP/GTP needed for this step
Step 3: Translocation
- eEF2-GTP (prokaryotic: EF-G-GTP) binds the ribosome
- GTP hydrolysis drives the ribosome to advance 3 nucleotides (one codon) in the 5'→3' direction along the mRNA
- The peptidyl-tRNA (now bearing the growing chain) moves from A site → P site
- The empty/deacylated tRNA moves from P site → E site → exits
- The A site is now empty and positioned on the next codon, ready for the next cycle
Energy cost per elongation cycle: 2 GTP (one for aminoacyl-tRNA delivery, one for translocation) - Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 8e; Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e
Phase 4: Termination
- When a stop (nonsense) codon (UAA, UAG, UGA) enters the A site, no tRNA has an anticodon that matches it
- Instead, release factors (RFs) recognise the stop codon and occupy the A site
- Prokaryotes: RF1 (reads UAA, UAG), RF2 (reads UAA, UGA), RF3 (GTPase)
- Eukaryotes: eRF1 (recognises all three stop codons), eRF3 (GTPase)
- Release factors stimulate peptidyl transferase to act as a hydrolase: the ester bond between the polypeptide and the P-site tRNA is hydrolysed → polypeptide is released
- The ribosome dissociates from the mRNA; ribosomal subunits are recycled - Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e; Lippincott Biochemistry, 8e
Summary: Energy Consumed in Translation
| Step | Energy Source | Cost |
|---|
| Aminoacyl-tRNA formation | ATP | 2 high-energy bonds (ATP → AMP + PPi) |
| Initiation (mRNA unwinding) | ATP | 1 ATP (eIF4A helicase) |
| Aminoacyl-tRNA → A site | GTP | 1 GTP |
| Translocation | GTP | 1 GTP |
| Total per amino acid added | | ~4 high-energy bonds |
Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes: Key Comparison
| Feature | Prokaryotes | Eukaryotes |
|---|
| Ribosome size | 70S | 80S |
| Small subunit | 30S (16S rRNA) | 40S (18S rRNA) |
| Large subunit | 50S (23S + 5S rRNA) | 60S (28S + 5.8S + 5S rRNA) |
| mRNA 5' structure | No cap; Shine-Dalgarno sequence | 5' methylguanosine cap; Kozak sequence |
| Initiating amino acid | N-formylmethionine (fMet) | Methionine (Met) |
| Initiation factors | 3 (IF1, 2, 3) | 12+ (eIFs) |
| Transcription/translation | Coupled (simultaneous) | Uncoupled (nuclear/cytoplasmic separation) |
| Elongation factors | EF-Tu, EF-G | eEF1A, eEF2 |
| Release factors | RF1, RF2, RF3 | eRF1, eRF3 |
Post-Translational Modifications and Protein Targeting
After the polypeptide is released, it undergoes numerous modifications:
| Modification | Description | Example |
|---|
| N-terminal methionine removal | Met often cleaved by aminopeptidase | Most cytoplasmic proteins |
| Phosphorylation | Addition of phosphate to Ser, Thr, Tyr - activates or inactivates proteins | Glycogen phosphorylase, kinase cascades |
| Glycosylation | Addition of oligosaccharides in rER/Golgi - roles in protein targeting, cell recognition | IgG, glycoproteins |
| Hydroxylation | Proline → hydroxyproline; Lysine → hydroxylysine | Collagen (requires Vit C) |
| Disulfide bond formation | -SH groups oxidised in rER lumen | Antibodies, insulin |
| Proteolytic cleavage | Signal peptide removed by signal peptidase | Secreted proteins; proinsulin → insulin |
| Ubiquitination | Misfolded/destined-for-degradation proteins tagged | Targets protein to proteasome for degradation |
Signal Peptide and Protein Targeting
Proteins destined for secretion or membrane insertion carry a signal sequence (15-60 hydrophobic amino acids) at the N-terminus - analogous to an airline luggage tag. The sequence of events:
- Signal sequence emerges from ribosome → binds Signal Recognition Particle (SRP)
- SRP arrests elongation (translational arrest)
- SRP-ribosome complex docks to SRP receptor (docking protein) on rER membrane
- Ribosome aligns with translocator channel in rER membrane; SRP dissociates; translation resumes
- Growing polypeptide is threaded into the rER lumen
- Signal peptidase (on cisternal face) cleaves the signal sequence
- Protein is modified in rER (core glycosylation, folding aided by chaperones) → packaged into vesicles → Golgi apparatus → final destination - Histology: A Text and Atlas, 9e
Chaperones and Proteasome
- Protein folding can be spontaneous or facilitated by molecular chaperones (e.g., HSP70, HSP90)
- Misfolded or short-lived proteins are tagged with ubiquitin chains and degraded by the 26S proteasome - Lippincott Biochemistry, 8e
Inhibitors of Translation (Antibiotics and Toxins)
The structural and functional differences between prokaryotic (70S) and eukaryotic (80S) ribosomes are exploited by many clinically important antibiotics.
| Agent | Target | Mechanism | Spectrum |
|---|
| Aminoglycosides (streptomycin, gentamicin) | 30S subunit (prokaryote) | Binds 16S rRNA; causes misreading of mRNA; disrupts initiation | Gram-negative bacteria; TB |
| Tetracyclines | 30S subunit (prokaryote) | Blocks binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to A site | Broad-spectrum bacteriostatic |
| Chloramphenicol | 50S subunit (prokaryote) | Inhibits peptidyl transferase (23S rRNA) | Broad-spectrum; bone marrow toxicity |
| Macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin) | 50S subunit (prokaryote) | Blocks translocation; causes early release of peptide chain | Gram-positive and atypicals |
| Clindamycin | 50S subunit (prokaryote) | Acts near peptidyl transferase site (overlaps with chloramphenicol/erythromycin binding) | Anaerobes, Gram-positives |
| Linezolid | 50S + 23S rRNA | Blocks initiation complex formation | MRSA, VRE |
| Fusidic acid | EF-G (EF-2 analog) | Prevents translocation by locking EF-G on ribosome | Staphylococci |
| Puromycin | Both 70S and 80S | Structural analog of aminoacyl-tRNA; causes premature chain termination | Non-selective (experimental only) |
| Cycloheximide | 80S (eukaryotic) | Inhibits peptidyl transferase and translocation | Eukaryotes only; too toxic for clinical use |
| Diphtheria toxin | eEF2 (eukaryotic) | ADP-ribosylates eEF2 → inactivates translocation | Eukaryotic cells only |
| Ricin | 28S rRNA | Depurinates a specific adenosine in the large ribosomal subunit → blocks EF binding | Extremely potent; eukaryotes |
- Basic Medical Biochemistry, 6e; Medical Microbiology, 9e; Goodman & Gilman's; Histology: A Text and Atlas
Summary Flow
DNA (nucleus)
↓ Transcription
pre-mRNA
↓ Splicing, 5' cap, poly-A tail
Mature mRNA
↓ Nuclear export
Cytoplasm
↓
Aminoacylation (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, 2 ATP/amino acid)
↓
INITIATION [80S/70S ribosome assembled at AUG; Met/fMet in P site]
↓
ELONGATION [A site binding (GTP) → Peptidyl transferase → Translocation (GTP)]
↓ (cycle repeats ~300-3000 times for average protein)
TERMINATION [Stop codon → Release factors → Polypeptide released]
↓
Post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, glycosylation, etc.)
↓
Protein folding (chaperones) → Functional protein
Energy total: approximately 4 high-energy phosphate bonds per amino acid incorporated (2 ATP for charging + 2 GTP during elongation), making protein synthesis one of the most energy-intensive cellular processes.
Sources:
- Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach, 6e - Aminoacyl-tRNA, initiation, elongation, termination in full detail
- Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 8e - Chapter summary, post-translational modifications, ubiquitin-proteasome
- Histology: A Text and Atlas with Correlated Cell and Molecular Biology, 9e - Transcription-to-translation overview, signal peptide, rER processing
- Medical Microbiology, 9e; Goodman & Gilman's; Katzung's - Antibiotic mechanisms