Proteins
...ms of the side parallel to it. The three dimensional or tertiary structure is based on hydrophobic interactions and charges of the amino acid R-groups. The quaternary structure of a protein is the shape adopted when two or more polypeptide chains come together to produce the functional protein molecule. DNA is a deoxyribonucleic acid, while RNA is ribonucleic acid. DNA is not directly involved in protein synthesis. It serves as a template directing the production of mRNA. The production of the complementary single stranded mRNA from DNA is called transcription. Protein synthesis begins when mRNA becomes attached to a small subunit of the ribosome. tRNA transfers amino acids from the cytoplasm’s amino acid pool to a ribosome. An antiocodon on the tRNA is attracted to its complementary codon on mRNA. Then another tRNA with a complementary anticodon binds to the next codon in mRNA. The long string of amino acids formed is the primary structure of the protein. Proteins play an important role in the membranes...