Question

What is the role of ribosomes in translation?

Answer 1

Translation is known as the process by which proteins are synthesized from the genetic material by the process of transcription of DNA into RNA. Translation occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and with the help of ribosomes.

Complete answer:
Translation occurs after transcription when the information of the DNA is converted to RNA, specifically messenger RNA or mRNA. All the RNA populations of the cell do not undergo translation, exceptions include rRNA, tRNA and small nuclear RNA. The process of translation is aided by the ribosome and it occurs in three different steps. The first one is known as Initiation where the ribosome assembles around the target mRNA and facilitates binding of complementary tRNA bound with specific amino acid to the specific mRNA codon which is the start codon. The second step is known as Elongation where the last tRNA added against the codon transfers an amino acid to the previously bound tRNA leading to the formation of a polypeptide chain following which h=the ribosome moves forward. The last step is the Termination where a stop codon is reached and the ribosome releases the polypeptide. The released polypeptide is not functional and later folds into its active conformation after which it can carry out its function.

Note:
Thus ribosomes play an important role in the process of translation without which the process of translation would not take place. A number of antibiotics are formulated which inhibit translation since the prokaryotic ribosomes have a different structure than the eukaryotic ribosomes. So prokaryotic ribosomes are targeted to stop translation.