What is translation and what is …

• Translation refers to the process of polymerization of amino acids to form a polypeptide.
• The order and sequence of amino acids are defined by the sequence of bases in the mRNA and the amino acids are joined by a bond which is known as a peptide bond.
• Formation of a peptide bond requires energy and thus amino acids are activated in the presence of ATP and linked to their cognate tRNA by the process of charging of tRNA or aminoacylation of tRNA.
• If charged tRNAs are brought close enough, a peptide bond forms which is enhanced by the presence of a catalyst such as ribosome.
• Ribosome in its inactive state exists as two subunits; a large subunit and a small subunit.
• There are two sites in the large subunit, for subsequent amino acids to bind to and thus become close enough to each other for the formation of a

peptide bond.

• A translational unit in mRNA is the sequence of RNA that is flanked by the start codon (AUG) and the stop codon and codes for a polypeptide.
• An mRNA also has some additional sequences that are not translated and are referred as untranslated regions (UTR).
• The UTRs are present at both 5'-end (before start codon) and at 3'-end (after stop codon) which are required for efficient translation process.
• After activation of amino acids, translation starts with its three steps-
• Initiation
• Elongation
• Termination