Translation

Translation

The final product of gene expression is a polypeptide

chain of amino acids whose sequence was
prescribed by the genetic code.
 The Players

1. mRNA transcribed from genomic DNA

2. Transfer RNA (tRNA) to transport amino acids
3. Ribosome to “read” mRNA, align amino acids
attached to tRNA and create the peptide bonds
between adjacent amino acids
 Ribosome
Two subunits composed of protein and ribosomal
RNA (rRNA)

The rRNA is a structural component of the ribosome

subunits
 The Ribosome (Eukaryote)
40S
18S RNA +
33 proteins
80S

60S
28S RNA +
49 proteins
 tRNA
tRNAs are small, extremely stable RNA structures
shaped like a cloverleaf due to internal base
pairing

They are almost identical in both prokaryotes and

eukaryotes

They contain a number of posttranscriptional

modifications, including non-traditional bases
(other than (A, U, G and C)
tRNA
 tRNA
The amino acid attaches to the 3’ end of the tRNA

tRNA can base pair with the codon in mRNA at the

anticodon on the tRNA
 Charging tRNA with an Amino Acid
An individual tRNA is specific for a single amino
acid. (There are at least 20 different tRNAs)

Charging is the process of covalently attaching an

amino acid to the tRNA

Charging is accomplished by aminoacyl tRNA

synthetases, each of which is specific for an amino
acid.
 Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
The process is essentially the same, but somewhat
more complicated in eukaryotes.

What I am showing you is the process for

prokaryotes, but at the end I’ll talk a little bit about
eukaryotes.
 Steps in Translation
1. Initiation—the two subunits of the ribosome
come together and the start codon on the mRNA
in the ribosome is aligned to set the reading
frame
2. Elongation—Charged tRNAs attach and peptide
bonds form between the amino acids
3. Termination
Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
 Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes:
1. Translation takes place directly after transcription
2. mRNA is not modified
3. Transcription and translation take place in the
same area
 3’
5’
 Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes:
1. Transcript is modified before leaving the nucleus
(5’ cap and 3’ poly-A tail)
2. Modifications increase translation efficiency and
lifespan of the mRNA
3. Translation takes place on ribosomes located in
the rough endoplasmic reticulum (translation is
physically separated from transcription)
Eukaryotes
 Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
Influence on gene expression forms the basis of
function in many antibiotics.

The purpose is to impair function in the prokaryote

without disrupting function in eukaryotes.
 Antibiotics
1. Tetracycline: Blocks attachment of the AA-tRNA
to the A site in the ribosome
2. Erythromycin: Blocks the movement of the
ribosome down the mRNA
3. Streptomycin: Blocks formation of the initiation
complex and causes miscoding
4. Rifamycin: Blocks transcription by blocking
binding of RNA polymerase