The process by which molecules of protein are broken down into amino acids. Protein synthesis is a necessary part of digestion that takes place in the stomach and small intestine. Giant molecules of protein must be digested by enzymes before they can be used to build and repair body tissues. For the most part this process takes place in the small intestine, where enzymes from the pancreas and intestinal lining break the large molecules down into small ones called amino acids. Amino acids can be absorbed into the blood and carried throughout the body to build and repair tissues.
Protein molecules are crafted by linking amino acids together, a process known as protein synthesis. Proteins play a pivotal role in supplying structural elements and catalytic enzymes that facilitate biochemical processes within the body. Hence, their production is imperative for both development and growth.
Diverse cells produce an array of proteins across varying spectrums. The guidelines governing these procedures are housed within the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) located within the cell’s nucleus. The process of protein synthesis commences with a gene (a specific segment of DNA) serving as a blueprint to create a strand of messenger RNA. Similar to DNA, RNA is constructed from a sequence of building blocks called nucleotide bases. This sequence of bases encodes the genetic information necessary for generating the specific protein needed.
The messenger RNA strand exits the cell nucleus and subsequently undergoes decoding to assemble a polypeptide chain, comprising a sequence of amino acids. Multiple polypeptide chains can be joined to create a single protein molecule.
The pace of protein synthesis is controlled by modifying the quantity of messenger RNA produced within the cell nucleus. Elaborate mechanisms are at play to guarantee the accurate fabrication of appropriate protein types, in necessary amounts, and precisely at the designated moments.