In: Biology
What is the enzyme that is responsible for synthesizing proteins by “reading” mRNA?
a. Where on the RNA does this enzyme start?
In the process of protein synthesis or translation the information encoded in the mRNA is utilised to combine amino acids to make up the structure of the protein.This happens in the cytoplasm and the mRNA is read in the 5'-3' direction.The reading is done by tRNA which identifies the three nucleotide sequence (genetic code) alon the length of the mRNA.
Now tRNA has to be activated so that it may display its function of reading or identification that specific sequence on mRNA and carry the corresponding amino acid.This is done by amino acyl tRNA synthetase that activates the tRNA and is an energy requiring process.They also activate the amino acids for the formation of peptide bond.
a) The reading of the mRNA starts from the start codon ; AUG - coding for methionine and this is the first site where the activity starts.