When the ribosome reaches a stop codon on the mRNA, no corresponding tRNA enters the A site. If the translation reaction were to be experimentally stopped at this point, which of the following would you be able to isolate?
A) an assembled ribosome with a polypeptide attached to the tRNA in the P site
B) separated ribosomal subunits, a polypeptide, and free tRNA
C) an assembled ribosome with a separated polypeptide
D) separated ribosomal subunits with a polypeptide attached to the tRNA
E) a cell with fewer ribosomes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the ribosome reaches a stop codon, the translation process halts, and the polypeptide remains attached to the tRNA in the P site until release factors promote its release. If the process is stopped experimentally at this point, the ribosome remains assembled with the polypeptide still attached to the tRNA in the P site.

When the Ribosome Reaches a Stop Codon on the MRNA