Genes to Proteins- the genetic code and translation

mRNA

A type of RNA that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis.

tRNA

A type of RNA that transports amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, matching them to the corresponding codons on the mRNA template.

codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or stop signal in the genetic code, playing a crucial role in translation.

anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a corresponding codon in mRNA, ensuring the correct amino acid is added during protein synthesis.

wobble

Refers to the flexibility in base pairing allowed by the third position of a codon, enabling some tRNAs to pair with multiple codons during translation.

frameshift

A genetic mutation caused by the insertion or deletion of nucleotides in a DNA sequence, which alters the reading frame of the genetic code and can lead to significant changes in the resulting protein.

aminoacyl tRNA synthetase

An enzyme that attaches the appropriate amino acid to its corresponding tRNA, ensuring accurate translation during protein synthesis.

ribozyme

A type of RNA that possesses catalytic activity, capable of accelerating biochemical reactions, including the cleavage and ligation of RNA molecules.

peptidyl transferase

A component of the ribosome that catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids during protein synthesis.

degenerate

Referring to the genetic code's property where multiple codons can specify the same amino acid, providing redundancy in the coding system.

eEF2

A protein crucial for the translocation step during translation in eukaryotic cells, helping move the ribosome along the mRNA.

eEF1A

A protein involved in the elongation phase of translation that facilitates the delivery of aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosome in eukaryotic cells.

eEF1B

A protein that plays a role in the elongation phase of translation by regenerating eEF1A-GTP, thus promoting the delivery of aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosome in eukaryotic cells.

release factors

Proteins that recognize stop codons during translation and promote the release of the newly synthesized polypeptide chain from the ribosome.