Abstract
This chapter considers proteins as the most dynamic, numerous, and varied class of biomolecules, where in the uniqueness of each cell type is caused almost entirely by the proteins it produces. It is not surprising, therefore, that a relatively large amount of cellular energy is used in protein synthesis. The chapter describes the synthesis of proteins as a regulated process which is the result of their strategic importance in the cellular economy. It then turns to protein synthesis, which is the process in which genetic information encoded in the nucleic acids is translated into the 20 standard amino acid alphabet of polypeptides. In addition to translation, protein synthesis includes the processes of posttranslational modification and targeting.
