Question

Which of the following molecules is/are produced by translation? Include molecules that are subject to further modification after initial synthesis.

Select all that apply.
A. The amino acid glycine
B. RNA polymerase
C. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase

Answer 1

Translation produces polypeptides that may undergo further modifications to become functional proteins. RNA polymerase and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase are not products of translation, but are involved in the process. Translation occurs on ribosomes and involves the role of mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecules produced by translation are polypeptides, which are subject to further modifications to become functional proteins. During translation, the mRNA template, ribosomes, and tRNA molecules work together to synthesize polypeptides. The amino acid glycine would be incorporated into a polypeptide chain during translation if its corresponding codon is present in the mRNA sequence. However, neither RNA polymerase nor aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase are products of translation; rather they play a role in the process. RNA polymerase is an enzyme involved in transcription, which synthesizes RNA from a DNA template, and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is an enzyme that charges tRNA with its correct amino acid prior to translation.

After an initial polypeptide chain is synthesized during translation, it can undergo several additional processes such as folding into a specific three-dimensional structure, being subject to post-translational modification (e.g., phosphorylation, glycosylation), or being targeted to specific locations within the cell. Translation takes place on the ribosomes, which are found in the cytoplasm in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In eukaryotic cells, transcription occurs in the nucleus.

When referring to the types of RNA in the translation process:

• mRNA (messenger RNA) contains the codons
• tRNA (transfer RNA) contains the anticodons. It is also the molecule that adds the amino acid phenylalanine to the growing polypeptide chain.
• rRNA (ribosomal RNA) makes up the ribosome, along with proteins

Regarding the DNA triplet code CAG, the corresponding codon on the mRNA molecule would be GUC, and the anticodon on the initiator tRNA that matches this mRNA codon would be CAG, ensuring that the correct amino acid is carried to the ribosome for incorporation into the polypeptide during translation.