Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Translation

Translation

Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life

Translation

Translation

Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life

Translation in Prokaryotes

Translation in Prokaryotes

Prokaryote translation is a complex, highly coordinated process that converts genetic information from mRNA into functional proteins. It involves three stages: initiation, elongation, and termination, each facilitated by specific molecular components.Initiation of TranslationThe process begins with the assembly of the ribosomal subunits and initiation factors on the mRNA. In bacteria, the 30S ribosomal subunit recognizes the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in the mRNA, a conserved region upstream of...

Termination of Translation

Termination of Translation

The large ribosomal subunit has several important structures essential to translation. These include the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) - which is the site where the peptide bond is formed - and a large, internal, water-filled tube through which the nascent polypeptide moves. This latter structure is called the Peptide Exit Tunnel, and it begins at the PTC and spans the body of the large ribosomal subunit. During translation, as the nascent polypeptide chain is synthesized, it passes through...

Improving Translational Accuracy

Improving Translational Accuracy

Base complementarity between the three base pairs of mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is not a failsafe mechanism. Inaccuracies can range from a single mismatch to no correct base pairing at all. The free energy difference between the correct and nearly correct base pairs can be as small as 3 kcal/ mol. With complementarity being the only proofreading step, the estimated error frequency would be one wrong amino acid in every 100 amino acids incorporated. However, error frequencies observed in...

Leaky Scanning

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Dynamic redistribution of eIF4F controls cap-dependent translation initiation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Remodeling of mRNA by eIF4F in human translation initiation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

A ribosomal kinetic checkpoint governs selective mRNA recruitment.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

eIF3: a critical player in mRNA recruitment to the ribosome with emerging roles across translation.

Biochemical Society transactions·2025

Same author

eIF1 and eIF5 dynamically control translation start site fidelity.

Nature structural & molecular biology·2025

Same author

Conserved long-range interactions are required for stable folding of orthoflaviviral genomic RNA.

Nucleic acids research·2025

Same journal

Lactate as a Chemical Modification on Proteins and Metabolites.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

Same journal

Nucleocytoplasmic Transport.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

Same journal

Packaging of Single-Stranded RNA in Viruses and Virus-Like Particles.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

Same journal

Shaping of the Infant Gut Microbiome by Milk Oligosaccharides.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

Same journal

Proteostasis Deregulation by Metabolism Drives the Hallmarks of Cancer.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

Same journal

JoAnne Stubbe's Radical Path: A Story of Passion, Curiosity, and Persistence.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics

An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics

Published on: September 15, 2020

Translation at the single-molecule level.

R Andrew Marshall¹, Colin Echeverría Aitken, Magdalena Dorywalska

¹Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. andrew.marshall@stanford.edu

Annual Review of Biochemistry

|June 4, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Single-molecule techniques reveal the dynamic movements of translation, offering insights into the speed, accuracy, and regulation of this complex biological process. This approach is key to understanding ribosome function.

More Related Videos

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation

Published on: April 30, 2014

Quantitative Immunofluorescence to Measure Global Localized Translation

Quantitative Immunofluorescence to Measure Global Localized Translation

Published on: August 22, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics

An In Vitro Single-Molecule Imaging Assay for the Analysis of Cap-Dependent Translation Kinetics

Published on: September 15, 2020

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation

In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation

Published on: April 30, 2014

Quantitative Immunofluorescence to Measure Global Localized Translation

Quantitative Immunofluorescence to Measure Global Localized Translation

Published on: August 22, 2017

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Biophysics
Biochemistry

Background:

Translation is a fundamental biological process involving intricate molecular communication.
Static ribosome structures suggest significant large-scale motions during translation.
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for a complete picture of protein synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To review key discoveries in the application of single-molecule methods to study translation.
To highlight the functional significance of large-scale motions in translation.
To showcase the potential of single-molecule techniques in elucidating dynamic conformational changes.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on single-molecule studies of translation.
Focus on techniques characterizing motion in complex biological systems.
Analysis of studies determining trajectories, timescales, and forces in translation.

Main Results:

Single-molecule methods provide powerful tools for studying translation dynamics.
These techniques reveal the functional significance of ribosome conformational changes.
Key discoveries demonstrate the promise of single-molecule approaches in this field.

Conclusions:

Single-molecule biophysics is revolutionizing the study of translation.
Understanding the dynamics of translation is essential for comprehending its regulation and accuracy.
Future research will likely leverage these methods to further unravel the complexities of protein synthesis.