What is Prokaryotic Translation?
Prokaryotic translation occurs in the cytoplasm in three steps: initiation, elongation, and termination. This process requires 70S ribosomes, made of two subunits- 50S and 30S. The ribosome has three sites named A, P, and E. Translation begins at the 5’ end of mRNA as it is still being synthesised. The Shine Dalgarno sequence at the 5’ end of mRNA often marks the starting point for translation. The sequence is recognized by the 16S rRNA component of the 30S subunit.
Three initiation factors, IF1, IF2, and IF3, make a complex, required to start the process and the first amino acid N-formylmethionine is recruited at the P site. Incoming aminoacyl tRNAs bind at A site and deliver the amino acid to the growing peptide chain at P site. Then uncharged tRNAs leave from the E site. GTP provides energy for making the peptide bonds, helped by elongation factors. When the elongation step is complete, the process is terminated by the release factors, freeing the finished polypeptide from the ribosomes.
Also Read: Difference Between 70s and 80s Ribosomes
Significance of Prokaryotic Translation
Translation is a fundamental process in prokaryotes as it is the sole mechanism for synthesising cellular proteins. Proteins are essential for carrying out various functions like cellular metabolism, regulation and for maintaining cellular structure.
- Translation is a key step in gene expression, where the genetic information encoded in mRNA is transferred to polypeptide chains.
- Translation allows prokaryotes to respond dynamically to changes in their environment by synthesising specific proteins.
Difference Between Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Translation
The translation process is a fundamental cellular process to synthesize proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA). The primary goal of translation in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes is to maintain the supply of proteins. Still, there are many differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation. Prokaryotic translation occurs in the cytoplasm with simultaneous transcription and translation. In eukaryotic cells, translation takes place in the cytoplasm, but mRNA is transcribed in the nucleus, requiring mRNA export. A brief overview of the translation process and the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation is given below.
Table of Content
- Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Translation
- What is Translation?
- What is Prokaryotic Translation?
- What is Eukaryotic Translation?