Final answer:
In prokaryotic cells, release factors RF1 or RF2 recognize stop codons during translation termination, triggering the release of the new polypeptide and ribosomal subunit dissociation.
Step-by-step explanation:
During termination of translation in prokaryotic cells, release factors that bind to the A site can be RF1 or RF2. These release factors recognize the nonsense codons (UAA, UAG, or UGA) that signal the end of a protein-coding sequence. When these stop codons enter the A site, release factors binding there cause the hydrolysis of the terminal peptidyl tRNA bond, leading to the release of the newly synthesized polypeptide chain from the ribosome. Additionally, this action results in the dissociation of the ribosomal subunits from the mRNA, allowing them to engage in another round of translation.