Final answer:
tRNA does not catalyze the termination of translation; release factors recognize the stop codons and aid in the termination process, signaling the completion of the protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. A tRNA with an anticodon complementary to the stop codon does not catalyze the reaction by which translation is terminated. Instead, release factors recognize the stop codon and promote the termination process.
In detail, during the termination of translation, when the A site of the ribosome aligns with one of the three nonsense codons (UAA, UAG, or UGA), no corresponding aminoacyl-tRNA is available as there is no tRNA with a complementary anticodon for these stop codons. Instead, release factors that resemble tRNAs in shape but do not carry amino acids bind to these codons. These factors cause the addition of a water molecule, catalyzed by the enzyme peptidyl transferase, to the P-site amino acid.
This reaction leads to the release of the completed polypeptide chain and the disassembly of the ribosomal subunits from the mRNA, thus ending the process of protein synthesis. The mRNA is then degraded, allowing its nucleotides to be reused.