Practice Questions

The prokaryotic 30S small ribosomal subunit contains the 16S rRNA molecule, which plays a key role in identifying the Shine-Dalgarno sequence.

The wobble hypothesis states that non-standard base pairing can occur between the third base of a codon and the first base of an anticodon.

Complementary bases within the single-stranded tRNA bend back and form hydrogen bonds, creating its characteristic shapes.

AUG is the universal start codon that codes for methionine in eukaryotes and formyl-methionine in prokaryotes.

Without a nuclear envelope separating DNA from ribosomes, prokaryotes can simultaneously transcribe and translate a genetic message.

The poly-A tail protects mRNA from 3' exonucleases, extending its operational lifespan within the cytoplasm.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is the specific enzyme that catalyzes the esterification of a specific amino acid to its cognate tRNA.

Written from the 3' to 5' direction (or 5'-CCA-3' read towards the 3' terminus), this terminal sequence attaches to the specific amino acid.

Introns are non-coding regions that must be excised, and exons are the coding sequences that are ligated together to form mature mRNA.

The large ribosomal subunit contains rRNA that acts as a ribozyme (peptidyl transferase) to catalyze peptide bond formation.