PPT Slide

Translation Initiation

• A special initiator tRNA starts the polypeptide chain

  - N-formyl-methionine tRNA - unique to bacteria
  
  - used only for initiation

• Initiation requires initiation factors

  - found only on 30S subunit; released when 50S joins
  
  - three factors needed for mRNA and tRNA to enter the complex

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version