Lecture 24: Review of Translation and the Genetic Code
(Old Lecture 23)

1. Translation is a complex process that involves many different molecular species.

A. What is the name of the molecular species that matches specific amino acid structural properties to specific nucleic acid structural properties during the process of translation? Describe the major function(s) of such molecules.

B. What is the name of the molecular species that reads the triplet code on the mRNA? How does that molecular species become associated with the amino acid that corresponds to the codon triplet(s) it reads?

C. What molecular species are associated with the actual formation of peptide bonds between two amino acids? Be as specific as you can.

D. What molecular species are associated with the termination of translation and release of the new protein from the ribosome?

E. What molecules provide the energy needed for translation?

2. Describe the roles of the A and P sites on the ribosome during translation.

3. Describe the sequence of events involved in assembling together the messenger RNA, the ribosomal subunits, and the first two amino acids involved in translation of a specific protein. Include in your summary a brief description of the various accessory molecules and carrier molecules that are involved.

4. What signals (plural) identify the start site for protein synthesis in prokaryotic cells?

5. What signals identify the termination site for protein synthesis?

6. What is meant by the term "redundancy"as it is applied to the genetic code?

7. What is the physical location where new peptide bonds are formed during protein synthesis? Be as precise as you can.

8. What is meant by post-translational modification of proteins?

9. How much energy (measured in terms of high energy bonds) is consumed for each new amino acid added to a growing protein? Summarize the energy consuming steps.

10. Distinguish between the following pairs in a way that makes it clear that you know what each is and how they differ.

A. Initiation factor and elongation factor.

B. ATP and GTP

C. 16S rRNA and 21S rRNA

D. EF-Tu and EF-G

E. AUG codon and UAG codon

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