Final answer:
The bacterial ribosome recognizes where to start translation through a process called initiation. In prokaryotic cells, the start codon codes for N-formyl-methionine carried by a special initiator tRNA, while in eukaryotic cells, the 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5' end of the mRNA is recognized. Kozak's rules determine the efficiency of translation based on the sequence around the AUG start codon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bacterial ribosome recognizes where to start translation through a process called initiation. In prokaryotic cells, initiation occurs when the small ribosomal subunit binds to the mRNA with the help of initiation factors and an initiator tRNA at the start codon. The start codon codes for N-formyl-methionine carried by a special initiator tRNA.
Similarly, in eukaryotic cells, the small ribosomal subunit recognizes the 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5' end of the mRNA through the assistance of cap-binding proteins and initiation factors. The initiation complex then tracks along the mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction, searching for the AUG start codon. The nucleotides around the AUG indicate whether it is the correct start codon, according to Kozak's rules.