Protein Synthesis: Is it a Vicious Circle?

In summary, protein synthesis does not convert proteins to amino acids. When we eat foods that contain protein, that protein gets converted to amino acids. And during protein synthesis amino acids get converted to proteins. This is correct, but in a sense its a vicious circle because the process of conversion only happens once.
  • #1
avito009
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Is Protein Synthesis a vicious circle?

When we take proteins they are converted to amino acids. But during protein synthesis amino acids are converted to proteins. Is this correct and in a sense its a vicious circle.
 
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  • #2
What do you mean by "When we take proteins they are converted to amino acids."?

Protein synthesis does not convert proteins to amino acids.
 
  • #3
I mean when we eat foods that contain protein, that protein gets converted to amino acids. And during protein synthesis amino acids get converted to proteins. So isn't that a vicious circle. Protein gets converted to protein.
 
  • #4
No it isn't, I don't think the term means what you think it means:

vi·cious cir·cle

noun

1. A sequence of reciprocal cause and effect in which two or more elements intensify and aggravate each other, leading inexorably to a worsening of the situation.

synonyms: dilemma, vicious cycle, downward spiral, vortex, no-win situation, catch-22, chicken-and-egg situation

"but if I bring Mr. Raines the foods he asks for, he blames me for not serving healthier meals—it's a vicious circle"

Having to ingest more proteins to replace those used is just another example of metabolism.
 
  • #5
avito009 said:
I mean when we eat foods that contain protein, that protein gets converted to amino acids. And during protein synthesis amino acids get converted to proteins.

Yes.

avito009 said:
So isn't that a vicious circle.

In science, you can call things anything you want like F=ma is the same as G=pq, but I agree with Ryan_m_b that this is an unusual use of "vicious circle".
 
  • #6
avito009 said:
When we take proteins they are converted to amino acids. But during protein synthesis amino acids are converted to proteins. Is this correct and in a sense its a vicious circle.

Why not just consider it a form of recycling? You're disassembling a structure of elements in one form and re-assembling them in a different form that may be more useful. You wouldn't consider that cycle "vicious" would you. I would say it's more pragmatic than vicious.
 
  • #7
The term that is more often used in biology is a "futile cycle" – the situation where a molecule is synthesized by one metabolic pathway only to be broken down into its components by another pathway. Very often, biology has evolved mechanisms to avoid futile cycling, for example, the signaling pathways that prevent glycolysis (which breaks down glucose) and gluconeogenesis (which synthesizes glucose), from occurring at the same time.

Sometimes futile cycling, however, has important regulatory roles. For example, the phosphorylation of proteins is an important regulatory mechanism for turning many biological processes on or off. Protein kinases will attach phosphate groups to proteins while phosphatases will remove these phosphate groups. The constant cycling between phosphorylated and unphosphorylated states mediated by the kinases and phosphatases is a very rapid and dynamic process, allowing the cell to rapidly change the phosphorylation state of its target proteins by altering the balance of activity between specific kinases and phosphatases.

Similar regulation sometimes occurs in protein synthesis, most notably for many proteins involved in the cell cycle. These proteins can be targeted for degradation by the attachment of a ubiquitin tag, and this degradation is important for regulating the levels of these proteins in the cell.
 
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1. What is protein synthesis?

Protein synthesis is the process by which cells create new proteins, essential for various biological functions such as cell growth, repair, and regulation of body processes.

2. How does protein synthesis work?

Protein synthesis involves two main steps: transcription and translation. In transcription, the DNA sequence is copied into a mRNA molecule, which then travels to the ribosomes. In translation, the mRNA is translated into a specific sequence of amino acids, forming a protein.

3. What is the role of DNA in protein synthesis?

DNA contains the genetic code that determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein. During transcription, a specific segment of DNA is transcribed into a mRNA molecule. This mRNA then carries the instructions to the ribosomes for protein synthesis.

4. Why is protein synthesis considered a "vicious circle"?

The term "vicious circle" refers to the continuous cycle of protein synthesis and degradation in the body. As proteins are constantly being used and broken down, new proteins must constantly be synthesized to replace them. This process is essential for maintaining the body's protein balance.

5. Can protein synthesis be regulated?

Yes, protein synthesis can be regulated by various factors such as hormones, nutrients, and environmental stimuli. For example, growth hormones can stimulate protein synthesis for muscle growth, while a lack of nutrients can decrease protein synthesis in the body.

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