Translation translates the messenger RNA into the amino acids coding for proteins
1. Initiation
-mRNA leaves the nucleus into the cytoplasm
Ribosomes recognize the 5' cap and bind to it
-
Translation starts at the start codon (AUG)
tRNA does all the magic translating by binding to these 2 sites...
A Site (Acceptor)
tRNA brings an amino acid in
P Site (Peptide)
polypeptide grows b/c peptide bonds between the amino acids
Anticodon = the complementary base pair on tRNA that corresponds to mRNA's codon
tRNA with anti codon
mRNA with codon
AUG
UAC
2. Elongation
tRNA brings amino acid to the A site (unless it's the start codon: they are special and get to go straight to the P site) then leaves through the E site (exit)
3. Termination
tRNA brings a stop codon to the A site, since they code for no proteins the 2 subunits fall off and translation is done