Translation (and

mutations)
The process of Gene Protein
tRNA
tRNA is made in the nucleus
and travels to the cytoplasm
used repeatedly and has a
specific anticodon for an aa
Message in mRNA
interpreted by tRNA
tRNA- transfers aa from
cytosol to ribosome
*recall- 20 aa, both
synthesized and acquired
tRNA translates a particular
mRNA codon (tRNA has
anticodons)
 rRna:
small and large subunits bond

rRNA and around mRNA to create a

ribosome
Fragments remain in cytoplasm

Ribosome until translation

Ribosome:
Asite- holds tRNA with next aa to

s
be added to the chain
Psite- holds tRNA carrying the
peptide chain
Esite- tRNA leaves here
 Overview:

mRNA codons are

translated into tRNA
anticodons

Translation: tRNA then goes and gets

the corresponding aa

aa are bonded together by

the ribosome to form
peptide chains (proteins)
(primary fold)
Now lets break it
down!
 Stages of
Translation
 brings together mRNA and tRNA with the
first aa as well as the ribosomal
subunits called the translation

Initiation initiation complex

Starts at 5 end of the mRNA and scans
then is translated in this direction
5 3
 aa are added to the polypeptide
chain one at time from 5 of mRNA
to 3 of mRNA

Elongation
Termination
stop codon appears, and release
factor binds to the stop codon
Attachment of release factor
instead of aa which allows the
hydrolyzation of the bond with the
tRNA
The translation assembly then
breaks down via hydrolysis
The peptide is released from the
ribosome
Mutations
 Point Mutations- chemical changes in a
single base pair of a gene
If in gametes passed on to the next

Point
generation
Recopied in meiosis repeatedly
Sickle cell origin- traced to a point
mutation in the beta-globin

Mutation polypeptide of hemoglobin

Substitutio
replacement of a single base pair
with another base pair
Can be either fatal

n Mutation
or called silent- mutation
doesnt matter
Missense- substitution that
changes one aa to another
Nonsense- substitution that
changes one aa to a stop aa and
the peptide is rendered ineffective
 Frameshift Mutations-
changes the triplets of bp

Frameshift that form codon changing

all of the aa in the chain
after that point
Mutation Insertion-addition of a
nucleotide
Deletion- deletion of a
nucleotide
 Spontaneous
mutations- mutations
left uncorrected and
Other copied in the next
round of replication

Types of Mutagens-physical and

chemical agents that
Mutations interact with DNA to
create mutations ex UV
and x-ray radiation