You are studying the process of protein synthesis in cultures of hepatocytes. During an experiment, you
Observe that translation of certain mRNAs continues until a termination codon reside in the A-site of the ribosome. The liberation of the polypeptide chain at this point involves the eukaryotic releasing factor and hydrolysis of which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The release of the polypeptide chain during translation termination involves the hydrolysis of GTP. The eukaryotic release factors facilitate this process by recognizing the stop codon and promoting the hydrolysis of the bond between the polypeptide and the tRNA in the P-site, which requires GTP. Translation termination occurs when a stop codon is encountered within the context of the A-site of the 60S subunit. The termination factor eRF, which binds GTP, then stimulates the peptidyltransferase ribozyme to transfer the peptide, from the tRNA in the P-site, to H₂O coupled with the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP + P_i. The peptide is released from the ribosome along with the naked tRNA and eRF-GDP complex.

You Are Studying the Process of Protein Synthesis in Cultures