Translation is the second stage of protein synthesis.
where does it take place
at the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
what happens
amino acids are joined together by a ribosome to make a polypeptide chain (protein), following the sequence of codons carried by the mRNA.
The mRNA attaches itself to a ribosome and transfer RNA (tRNA)
molecules carry amino acids to the ribosome
A) tRNA carrying an amino acid
B) mRNA
C) ribosome
2. A tRNA molecule, with an anticodon that's complementary to the start codon on the mRNA, attaches itself to the mRNA by complementary base pairing. A second tRNA molecule attaches itself to the next codon on the mRNA in the same way.
A) codon on mRNA
B) complementary anticodon on tRNA
3. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in the ribosome catalyses the formation of a peptide bond between the two amino acids attached to the tRNA molecules. This joins the amino acids together. The first tRNA molecule moves away, leaving its amino acid behind.
A) peptide bond
B) empty tRNA
4. A third tRNA molecule binds to the next codon on the mRNA. Its amino acid binds to the first two and the second tRNA molecule moves away.
This process continues, producing a chain of linked amino acids (a polypeptide chain), until there's a stop codon on the mRNA molecule.
