Translation Flashcards
(75 cards)
What is the process of translation?
Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using mRNA as a template.
What is the role of ribosomes in translation?
Ribosomes are the cellular machinery that facilitate the decoding of mRNA and the assembly of amino acids into proteins.
True or False: Aminoacylation is the process of attaching an amino acid to its corresponding tRNA.
True
What enzyme catalyzes aminoacylation?
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzes the aminoacylation of tRNA.
Fill in the blank: The peptidyl transferase reaction occurs in the _____ site of the ribosome.
P
What is the function of the A site in the ribosome during translation?
The A site is where aminoacyl-tRNA enters the ribosome and binds to the codon on the mRNA.
What happens during the initiation phase of translation?
During initiation, the ribosomal subunits assemble around the mRNA and the first tRNA binds to the start codon.
What is the significance of the start codon?
The start codon (AUG) signals the beginning of protein synthesis and codes for methionine.
Describe the elongation phase of translation.
During elongation, amino acids are sequentially added to the growing polypeptide chain as the ribosome moves along the mRNA.
What is the role of the E site in the ribosome?
The E site is where uncharged tRNA exits the ribosome after delivering its amino acid.
What is the peptidyl transferase activity?
Peptidyl transferase activity refers to the enzymatic function of forming peptide bonds between amino acids during translation.
True or False: The ribosomal cycle includes initiation, elongation, and termination.
True
What triggers the termination of translation?
Translation is terminated when a stop codon is reached, leading to the release of the newly synthesized polypeptide.
What is a stop codon?
A stop codon is a nucleotide triplet that signals the end of protein synthesis; examples include UAA, UAG, and UGA.
What occurs during the termination phase of translation?
During termination, release factors bind to the ribosome, prompting the release of the polypeptide and disassembly of the ribosomal complex.
What is the role of tRNA in translation?
tRNA transports specific amino acids to the ribosome, matching them to the corresponding mRNA codons.
Fill in the blank: The ribosome consists of two subunits, the _____ and the _____ subunit.
large, small
What is the function of the small ribosomal subunit?
The small subunit is responsible for decoding the mRNA sequence.
What is the function of the large ribosomal subunit?
The large subunit catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids.
What is the role of mRNA in translation?
mRNA serves as the template that carries the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
True or False: The amino acid sequence of a protein is determined by the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA.
True
What are the three main stages of translation?
The three main stages of translation are initiation, elongation, and termination.
What is the purpose of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence?
The Shine-Dalgarno sequence helps the ribosome recognize the start site of translation in prokaryotes.
What does the term ‘codon’ refer to?
A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.