In: Biology
Explain the steps involved in the initiation of protein synthesis in prokaryotes.
Protein synthesis occurs in three steps - Initiation, elongation and termination .
During initiation , mRNA and ribosomes complex is formed .First codon ( start codon - AUG) binds with first aminoacyl tRNA .
Aminoacyl tRNA is formed when each Aminoacids are correctly linked with its corresponding tRNA molecule . The high energy bond between Aminoacids and tRNA is by formation of covalent bond at the A residue of the CCA sequence at the 3' end.This bond makes the Aminoacid to bind with the end of the growing polypeptide chain to form a new peptide bond.
Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase catalyse the reaction of aminoacids attaching to tRNA molecule. First the Aminoacids react with ATP forming aminoacyl adenylate and then this aminoacyl group attach to tRNA at 3' end forming Aminoacyl- tRNA.
Steps:
1. Initiation starts with proteins called initiation factors ( IF1and IF3) ,binding to the small 30S ribosomal subunit.
2. This small subunit binds to the mRNA with the help of shine- dalgarno sequence ( short sequence of purines at 5' end of AUG codon)and migrates in a 3' end direction along the mRNA till it locates the AUG codon .
3. The initiator tRNA charged with first Aminoacid N-formylmethionine binds with IF2 and GTP form a complex with 30 S ribosomal subunit, mRNA,IF1 . This complex is known as 30S initiation complex.( IF3 is released ).
4. The large 50S ribosomal subunit binds to form 70S initiation complex hydrolysing GTP and releasing IF1 and IF3 . Then elongation step of Protein synthesis begins.