1
Q
outline the process of translation
A
- coupling an amino acid to its cognate tRNA
- translating genetic code
- joining of an amino acid (peptidyltransfer)
2
Q
what is tRNA? describe it
A
- adaptor molecule between nucleic acid and amino acid
- amino acid attaches to acceptor arm 3’ end
- anticodon loop pairs with the mRNA codons
- one tRNA can bind to more than one codon
3
Q
mechanism of attaching amino acid to tRNA?
A
- amino acid + ATP –> aminoacyl - AMP + Ppi
- aminoacyl -AMP +tRNA –>amino acyl - tRNA + AMP
4
Q
outline features of the genetic code
A
- 61 codons and 3 stop codons
- 20 amino acids encoded by 61 codons but not 61 tRNAs
- reading frame needs start codon (AUG) and stop codon (UAG/UAA/UGA)
