Translation

Translation

process in the ribosome that decodes genetic information (turns genes (RNA) to proteins) by bringing mRNA and tRNA together and growing polypeptide chain

Polypeptide Chain

a linear polymer made of amino acids linked by covalent peptide bonds that's the primary structure of proteins

Nucleic Acid

genetic material

Protein

amino acid

Genetic Code

a codon

Codon (Genetic Code)

a triplet code made up of 3 consecutive, non-overlapping groups of nucleotides

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

adaptor molecules that convert RNA info to amino acids

Ribosomes

cellular machinery that carry out translation; initiates translation by assembling on an mRNA

tRNA Anticodons

codons carrying an amino acid that interact w/ matchhing (complementary) mRNA codons via H-bonding at ribosome to build proteins

Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases (aaRS)

enzymes that attach amino acids to their matching tRNA to charge tRNA for protein synthesis

Wobble Effect

when there is flexibility in H-bonding at 3rd codon position, allowing a single tRNA to H-bond w/ multiple codons

Degeneracy in Genetic Code

when multiple different codons can specify same amino acid during translation due to wobble effect

Protein Elongation Steps

1) Ribosome reaches stop codon on mRNA

2) Release factor -> hydrolysis

3) Ribosomal subunits/other components dissociate

1) Codon recognition

2) Peptide bond formation

3) Translocation

Translocation

when ribosome moves a codon down mRNA -> shifts tRNA, resets ribosome active sites for next amino acid

Peptide Bonds

covalent bonds that connect amino acids together via dehydration synthesis

Translation Termination Steps

b

Ribosomal Subunit

2 structural halves (large, small) that lock around mRNA to synthesize proteins; bridged to mRNA by tRNA

Release Factor (RF)

specialized protein that recognizes stop codons on mRNA and ends translation via hydrolysis

Hydrolysis

the breaking/releasing of bond linking polypeptide chain to tRNA on ribosome

Polyribosome

multiple ribosomes attached to a single mRNA