In: Biology
Which of the following best describes the tRNA binding sites of the ribosome?
Group of answer choices
A. The P site contains the tRNA molecule covalently bound to the growing chain of amino acids.
B. All tRNAs leave the ribosome through the A site.
C. Only one of the three sites can be occupied by a tRNA molecule at any given time.
D. Each tRNA that associates with the ribosome must first bind in the P site and then moved to the A site.
Ans) The correct answer is "A"
Option A is correct because the growing chain of anino acids is carried by the initiator tRNA at the P site initially and then it is transferred to the amino acyl tRNA at the A site by the peptidyl transferase enzyme and this is known as transpeptidation.
Option B is incorrect because all the tRNAs leave the ribosome from the E (exit) site.
Option C is incorrect because tRNAs can bind to P site and then the next amino acyl tRNA charged with the amino acid can bind to the A site of the ribosome.This means that both the A and P sites of the ribosome can also be occupied at any given time.
Option D is incorrect because the initiator tRNA first binds to the P site and then the amino acyl tRNA binds to the A site.The tRNA having the methionine amino acid forms the peptide bond with the amino acid carried by the amino acyl tRNA by the peptidyl transferase enzyme. The amino acid is then transferred to the amino acyl tRNA and the deacylated tRNA at the P site then moves to the E site.The amino acyl tRNA at the A site will now move to the P site so that empty site is created at the A site for the next cycle to begin.