Translation/RNA Flashcards
What are the 3 types of RNA?
rRNA, tRNA, mRNA
What is the function of rRNA?
It is a component of ribosomes which are the site of protein synthesis
What is the function of tRNA?
Transports an amino acid specific to its anticodon to the correct position along mRNA during translation
What is the function of mRNA?
A sequence of bases which are complementary to a gene and so confer the gene so the protein it codes for can be made
How many different anticodons are there?
64
How many bases make up an anticodon region?
3
What is the anticodon region?
3 bases complementary to a codon
What are the 2 most important features of a tRNA molecule?
- the anticodon region
- the region which attaches to a specific amino acid
What is translation?
-the process by which the complementary code carried by mRNA is decoded by tRNA into a sequence of amino acids
Where does translation occur?
At the ribosome
What are the 3 steps in translation?
- initiation
- elongation
- termination
What occurs in initiation?
An initiation complex is formed, mRNA attaches to subunits of a ribosome. The mRNA attracts a tRNA with an anitcodon that is complementary to the codon on mRNA
What occurs in elongation?
- the second tRNa is attracted by codon-anticodon complementarity. A condensation reaction occurs between two amino acids with a peptide bond forming between them
- the ribosome shift one codon along the mRNA and the first tRNA is released
- the next tRNA attached to the mRNA due to base complementarity
- this is repeated
What occurs in termination?
- when a stop codon is reached a polypeptide is released
- the protein will fold and the mRNA is released from the ribosome
What happens to the tRNA when it is released from the mRNA?
It is activated in the cytoplasm to pick up another amino acid
