Translation From Start to Finish

Translation initiates when ribosomal subunits and an initiator tRNA converge on an mRNA. tRNAs deliver amino acids in the order dictated by successive codons in the mRNA. The ribosome links the amino acids together as it moves along the mRNA, so a polypeptide forms and elongates. Translation terminates when the ribosome reaches a stop codon.

Translation initiates when ribosomal subunits and an initiator tRNA converge on an mRNA. tRNAs deliver amino acids in the order dictated by successive codons in the mRNA. The ribosome links the amino acids together as it moves along the mRNA, so a polypeptide forms and elongates. Translation terminates when the ribosome reaches a stop codon.