Bacterial translation
Bacterial translation is the process by which protein synthesis occurs in bacteria. It is a vital part of the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes the flow of genetic information in a biological system.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Bacterial translation involves the decoding of the mRNA (messenger RNA) sequence into a polypeptide chain, which will later fold into an active protein. This process requires various types of RNA (ribonucleic acid), including tRNA (transfer RNA) and rRNA (ribosomal RNA), as well as a multitude of proteins and enzymes.
Process[edit | edit source]
The process of bacterial translation can be divided into three stages: initiation, elongation, and termination.
Initiation[edit | edit source]
The initiation stage involves the assembly of the ribosome, the molecular machine that carries out translation. The small ribosomal subunit binds to the mRNA, and the initiator tRNA binds to the start codon on the mRNA. The large ribosomal subunit then binds to form the complete initiation complex.
Elongation[edit | edit source]
During the elongation stage, the ribosome moves along the mRNA, decoding its sequence and synthesizing the corresponding polypeptide chain. Each codon on the mRNA is recognized by a specific tRNA, which carries the corresponding amino acid. The amino acids are then linked together by peptide bonds in a process catalyzed by the ribosome.
Termination[edit | edit source]
The termination stage occurs when the ribosome reaches a stop codon on the mRNA. This signals the end of translation, and the newly synthesized polypeptide is released from the ribosome.
Differences from Eukaryotic Translation[edit | edit source]
While the basic process of translation is conserved across all forms of life, there are some key differences between bacterial translation and eukaryotic translation. For example, bacteria use a different set of initiation factors, and the ribosomes in bacteria are smaller than those in eukaryotes.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Many antibiotics work by targeting bacterial translation, exploiting the differences between bacterial and eukaryotic translation to selectively inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria without affecting the host organism.
 | This biology article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
| Bacterial translation Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
