Overview: DNA to protein

A key stage of converting the primary genetic information from the stable DNA code into protein is to translate the messenger RNA (mRNA) into a polypeptide. This process is car- ried out through the ribosome. The ribosome can only bind to messenger RNA at sites to the 5’ of the AUG start codon. Confusion often arises over the location of the promoter the ribosome binding site (RBS) and the transcript start site as these are often all marked on schematics showing the features of a gene in its genomic location in Table 1.

                                Table 1.  Location of nucleic acid signals for transcription and translation