Which of the following is true of protein synthesis ONLY in prokaryote...
Translation and transcription are coupled:
In prokaryotes, translation and transcription occur simultaneously and are coupled processes. This means that while the DNA is being transcribed into mRNA, the mRNA is being translated into protein by the ribosomes. The mRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase during transcription and immediately serves as a template for translation. This coupling allows for efficient and rapid protein synthesis in prokaryotes.
The codon AUG codes for the start signal:
In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the codon AUG codes for the start signal of protein synthesis. This codon is recognized by the initiator tRNA, which carries the amino acid methionine (or formylmethionine in prokaryotes). The presence of AUG at the beginning of an mRNA sequence signals the start of translation and the assembly of the ribosome complex.
The tRNA anticodon can bind to two or more different codons:
In prokaryotes, the tRNA anticodon can bind to two or more different codons due to a phenomenon called wobble base pairing. Wobble base pairing allows for flexibility in the pairing between the third nucleotide of the codon and the first nucleotide of the anticodon. This flexibility allows a single tRNA molecule to recognize multiple codons that have slight variations in their third nucleotide. For example, a tRNA with the anticodon 5'-UAC-3' can pair with the codons 5'-UAU-3' (tyrosine) and 5'-UAC-3' (tyrosine or isoleucine) due to wobble base pairing.
The functional ribosome contains two subunits constructed of proteins and RNA:
In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the functional ribosome consists of two subunits constructed of proteins and RNA. In prokaryotes, the small ribosomal subunit is composed of a single RNA molecule and several proteins, while the large ribosomal subunit is made up of two RNA molecules and numerous proteins. These subunits come together during translation to form the functional ribosome, which facilitates the assembly of amino acids into polypeptide chains according to the mRNA sequence.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A, as translation and transcription are coupled in prokaryotes.