Translation and Protein Synthesis

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the processes of translation and protein synthesis in cells.

Translation

The process by which a cell uses information from mRNA to assemble proteins.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Molecules that carry specific amino acids and match them with the corresponding codons in mRNA.

Anticodon

A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that pairs with a complementary codon in mRNA.

Ribosome

A complex structure made of proteins and rRNA that performs translation by facilitating the coupling of tRNA with mRNA codons.

Wobble

The flexible pairing at the third base of a codon that allows some tRNAs to bind to more than one codon.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase

An enzyme that attaches the correct amino acid to its corresponding tRNA.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids that make up a protein.

Initiation of Translation

The stage where mRNA, a tRNA with the first amino acid, and ribosomal subunits are brought together to start protein synthesis.

Elongation of the Polypeptide Chain

The stage in translation where amino acids are added one by one to the growing polypeptide chain.

Termination of Translation

The final step of translation, where a stop codon in mRNA triggers the release of the newly synthesized polypeptide.

Codon Recognition

The first step of elongation in translation, where the correct tRNA matches with the mRNA codon.

Peptide Bond Formation

The process during elongation where the amino acids on tRNA are linked together to form a polypeptide.

Translocation

The movement of ribosomes along the mRNA, during which the tRNA shifts from the A site to the P site.

Release Factor

A protein that recognizes stop codons during termination and triggers the release of the polypeptide.

mRNA (messenger RNA)

The molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.