Translation - Biochemistry

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Question

Which of the following is a true statement regarding translation in eukaryotes?

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Answer

Translation is a process by which polypeptides are synthesized from a mRNA transcript, which was previously synthesized from the process of transcription. During this process, tRNA acts as a carrier by bringing with it specific amino acids to the ribosome, which are then incorporated into a growing polypeptide chain.

Eukaryotic translation differs in quite a few ways from prokaryotic translation. For one thing, prokaryotic mRNA contains a Shine-Delgarno sequence, which serves as a binding site for prokaryotic ribosomes to assemble on the mRNA. This binding, in turn, helps to initiate translation in prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells do not contain a Shine-Delgarno sequence.

Furthermore, in eukaryotes, translation always begins with the assembly of ribosomal subunits on mRNA in the cytosol. Therefore, translation always begins on free ribosomes in the cytosol! Sometimes, translation will also finish on free ribosomes if the resulting protein is destined to stay within the cytosol where it will serve its function. Alternatively, if the first few amino acids of the polypeptide consists of a specific "signal sequence," translation will be temporarily paused. During this time, the entire ribosome-mRNA-polypeptide complex will be translocated to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Once attached, polypeptide synthesis will resume and the polypeptide will thread its way into the endoplasmic reticulum. As it does so, additional folding and post-translational modifications are usually done to the polypeptide for it to carry out its proper function. Generally, polypeptides that make their way through the endoplasmic reticulum are destined either to be secreted out of the cell, or to become incorporated into the endomembrane system of the cell. And finally, as polypeptides are synthesized on a ribosome, whether it is free or bound, the amino terminus (aka N-terminus) side of the polypeptide is synthesized first and the carboxy terminus (aka C-terminus) is synthesized last.

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