Translation

mRNA

ontains genetic message in triplet code (codons) that code for either an amino acid or a stop signal

tRNA

contains an anticodon loop complementary to the codon and carries the correct amino acid to a ribosome to build proteins

rRNA

folds into 3D structures and combine with proteins to form ribosomes

mRNA splicing

only occurs in eukaryotes

sense codons

61 codons code for one of 20 standard amino acids;

nonsense codons

3 stop signals

formyl methionine (fMet)

start signal in prokaryotes

methionine (Met)

start signal in eukaryotes

redundancy

A single amino acid can be coded by multiple codons

protects cells from genetic changes from mutations

in prokaryotes

translation is initiated even before transcription concludes

polysomes

Multiple ribosomes latch onto a single mRNA molecule forming

Post-translational modifications

often required for a protein to function

• Trimming

• Addition of organic factors (e.g., sugars and lipids) and/or inorganic factors (e.g.,phosphate and metal ions)

Initiation

ribosome binds to mRNA and looks for start codon

Elongation

Termination

nonstandard genetically encoded amino acids

create issues like with selenocysteine

more than just the 20 standard amino acids