how are amino acids put together and what does this make?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are joined together through a process called protein synthesis, specifically through a chemical reaction known as a condensation reaction or dehydration synthesis.
To understand how amino acids are put together, we need to begin with the individual components. Amino acids consist of three main parts: an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), and a unique side chain (R group). The R group differentiates one amino acid from another, giving it its specific properties.
During protein synthesis, amino acids are connected through peptide bonds, which form between the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid and the amino group (-NH2) of another amino acid. This bond formation releases a water molecule, hence the name "dehydration synthesis."
The process involves the following steps:
1. Activation: Each amino acid is activated by attaching a molecule called transfer RNA (tRNA), which carries the specific amino acid to the ribosome (the site of protein synthesis).
2. Initiation: The ribosome starts the process by recognizing a specific start codon on the messenger RNA (mRNA). This codon serves as the initiation signal for protein synthesis.
3. Elongation: The ribosome moves along the mRNA, reading the sequence of nucleotides. Each time it encounters a codon that matches the anticodon on the tRNA, it adds an amino acid to the growing chain, forming a peptide bond between adjacent amino acids. This process continues until a stop codon is reached.
4. Termination: The ribosome recognizes the stop codon, and protein synthesis comes to an end. The newly formed chain of amino acids, now called a polypeptide chain, detaches from the ribosome.
The polypeptide chain is a primary structure of a protein. To become functional, it goes through further processing, such as folding into a three-dimensional shape (secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures), which determines its function in the body.
In summary, amino acids are put together through peptide bond formation during protein synthesis. This results in the formation of a polypeptide chain, which serves as the primary structure of proteins.