Elongation of translation

Definition

Elongation of translation is the process during protein synthesis where amino acids are sequentially added to a growing polypeptide chain. This phase occurs after initiation and before termination in translation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Elongation involves the ribosome moving along the mRNA strand, decoding codons into amino acids.
2. The elongation cycle includes three steps: codon recognition, peptide bond formation, and translocation.
3. Elongation factors such as EF-Tu in prokaryotes and eEF1A in eukaryotes play critical roles by binding to tRNAs and guiding them to the ribosome.
4. GTP hydrolysis provides the energy required for several steps of elongation.
5. The ribosome has three sites crucial for elongation: the A (aminoacyl), P (peptidyl), and E (exit) sites.

Review Questions

Related terms

Initiation of Translation: The first phase of translation where the ribosomal subunits assemble around the start codon on mRNA.

Termination of Translation: The final phase of translation where a stop codon is recognized, leading to release of the completed polypeptide chain.

Ribosome:

A complex molecular machine made up of rRNA and proteins that synthesizes proteins by translating mRNA.