Translation - AP Biology

The three types of RNA involved in Translation are messenger RNA, transfer RNA, and ribosomal RNA.

Each tRNA contains the anticodon for a specific mRNA codon and carries the amino acid corresponding to that codon to ribosomes during translation. mRNA is produced by transcription from DNA, and ribosomes translate it into proteins. Multiple codons can code for a single amino acid, and so there can be several tRNA anticodons that could be used for a single amino acid.

mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA all play a key role in the synthesis of proteins. tRNA (transfer RNA) is responsible for gathering amino acids in the cytosol and bringing them to the ribosomes when translation is taking place. mRNA (messenger RNA) is the template for translation. rRNA (ribosomal RNA) is a structural element of the ribosomes.

An anticodon is the three-base sequence, paired with a specific amino acid, that a tRNA molecule brings to the corresponding codon of the mRNA during translation. The anticodon sequence is complementary to the mRNA, using base pairs in the anti-parallel direction. tRNA is read 3'-to-5', so the sequence would be 3'-UUG-5'. Keep in mind that adenine binds to uracil in RNA.

Codon: 5'-AAC-3'

Anticodon: 3'-UUG-5'

tRNA is a special type of RNA that has the function of forming bonds with amino acids and bringing them to ribosomes to complete translation. tRNA carries anticodons, allowing it to bind to mRNA in the active site of a ribosome. It can then transfer its amino acid residue to the ribosome, where it is incorporated into the growing polypeptide chain. The tRNA molecule is the released from the ribosome and recycled.

rRNA forms part of the ribosome structure and mRNA brings information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Transcription is the process of making an RNA transcript from a DNA template, and is performed by an RNA polymerase.

Anticodons are found on molecules of tRNA. Their function is to base pair with the codon on a strand of mRNA during translation. This action ensures that the correct amino acid will be added to the growing polypeptide chain. A tRNA molecule will enter the ribosome bound to an amino acid. The anticodon sequence will bind to the codon of the mRNA, allowing the tRNA to release the attached amino acid. This amino acid is then added to the peptide chain by the ribosome.

Amino acid sequence is determined by the sequence of codons on mRNA. tRNA is responsible for bringing new amino acids to the ribosome. Interactions between the codons on mRNA and the anticodons on tRNA are what allow the formation of the appropriate peptide bonds.

Chaperones are later used to facilitate the development of protein structure, but are not involved in checking protein sequence.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is responsible for "charging" tRNA with amino acids. During translation, tRNA molecules that are bound to specific amino acids are fed into the ribosome in a specific order that is complementary to the mRNA strand. Once a tRNA is used up, it loses its amino acid. As a result, it must interact with aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase before it can be used again in translation.

A malfunction in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase would result in a shortage of charged tRNA molecules and a decrease in translation processing.

The three types of RNA discussed are messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). mRNA forms during transcription when RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from the DNA template. Post-transcriptional modification is required for the mRNA to mature and exit the nucleus. Once in the cytoplasm, the mRNA will bind to a ribosome composed of rRNA and proteins. The ribosome will then recruit tRNA molecules to the complex in order to synthesize the protein product. Each amino acid binds to a specific kind of tRNA. tRNA brings the amino acids to the growing end of the newly forming polypeptide at the ribosome by binding to the codon of the mRNA.

The mRNA strand is synthesized 5' to 3' and contains the codons. tRNA contains the anticodons needed for the corresponding amino acid, and is paired to the codon 3' to 5'.

Ribosomes are non-membranous organelles that direct protein synthesis by reading mRNA and joining amino acids into strands of polypeptides. Ribosomes exist in both free and membrane-bound states. They are synthesized in both the nucleolus and cytoplasm. The components that make up these non-membranous organelles are rRNA molecules and a variety of proteins. Ribosomes have a large and a small subunit, together called the translational apparatus. The small ribosomal subunit reads the mRNA strand and the large ribosomal subunit joins amino acids into polypeptides.

The enzyme aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase joins tRNA molecules with a corresponding amino acid. First, an amino acid is bound to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase using ATP. Then, the tRNA molecule containing the corresponding anticodon binds to the enzyme. The correct tRNA molecule is identified by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase by its anticodon sequence and other areas of its structure. Last, the tRNA molecule covalently bonds to the amino acid and is released from aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

The large ribosomal subunit has three sites that interact with tRNA molecules—the peptidyl “P” site, the aminoacyl “A” site, and the exit “E” site. The P-site holds the tRNA corresponding to the most recently added amino acid, which is attached to the growing polypeptide chain by a peptide bond. The A-site holds the tRNA with the next amino acid to be added to the chain. Finally, the E-site holds the free tRNA without an amino acid that was previously in the P-site.

The anticodon of any codon will be the RNA nucleotides that complement the codon sequence. In RNA, adenine (A) complements uracil (U) while cytosine (C) complements guanine (G). Hence, for the codon 5' AUG 3', the complements will be 3' UAC 5'. Note that many of the incorrect answers contain thymine (T), a nucleotide not found in RNA.

The start codon for any strand of RNA begins with the codon that codes for the amino acid methionine. This is the first amino acid in a polypeptide chain. The abbreviation for methionine is: Met.

When translated from a ribosome on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), the protein is moved through the RER until it is released in a lipid vesicle that can transport the protein to the plasma membrane, where the lipid vesicle fuses with the lipid membrane and the protein is secreted outside the cell. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum does not have ribosomes on it and is used for the production and transport of lipids and in detoxification. No ribosomes are found in the nucleus or directly on the plasma membrane. Ribosomes in the cytosol translate proteins that stay inside the cell.

In messenger RNA, each codon is three nucleotides that codes for a particular amino acid during translation. Purines and pyrimidines are types of nucleotides on DNA and RNA. The genetic code is redundant, but each codon only codes for one amino acid.

Translation is the process of converting an mRNA codon sequence into protein via the ribosome, so that is the correct answer. Apoptosis is programmed cell death. Transcription is close, but it is the process of making RNA from DNA. Glycolysis is the process of creating two pyruvate molecules from glucose, and produces two ATP.

mRNA is the template used during translation. The mRNA strand is read and "translated" into a polypeptide by tRNA.

DNA would be the template for transcription, not for translation.

Transcription leads to the production of hnRNA (heterogeneous nuclear RNA), which primarily consists of pre-mRNA and must go through processing and modification to form mRNA and leave the nucleus.

The other three choices, mRNA (messenger RNA), tRNA (transfer RNA), and rRNA (ribosomal RNA), all play active roles in the process of translation. mRNA serves as the codon template. tRNA matches anticodons to mRNA and carries amino acids. rRNA forms a large part of the ribosome structure and plays a functional role as the site of translation.