Translation (genetics)

Translation (genetics)

Translation (genetics) is a process that occurs in the cell's cytoplasm, where ribosomes synthesize proteins after the process of transcription. During translation, mRNA is decoded by the ribosome to produce a specific amino acid chain, or polypeptide, that will later fold into an active protein.

Process

Translation proceeds in four phases: activation, initiation, elongation, and termination (all describing the growth of the amino acid chain, or polypeptide that is the product of translation).

Activation

In activation, the correct amino acid (AA) is joined to the correct transfer RNA (tRNA). While this is not, in the technical sense, a step in translation, it is required for translation to proceed. The AA is joined by its carboxyl group to the 3' OH of the tRNA by an ester bond.

Initiation

In eukaryotes and archaea, the amino acid-loaded tRNA is brought to the ribosome by elongation factors.

Elongation

Elongation is the most rapid phase of the translation process.

Termination

Termination of the polypeptide happens when the A site of the ribosome faces a stop codon (UAA, UAG, or UGA).

See also

• Genetic code
• Molecular biology
• Protein biosynthesis
• Transcription (genetics)

External links

• Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition

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