AP Biology Flashcards: Translation

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Translation, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What type of RNA facilitates peptide bond formation?

Answer: rRNA. Ribosomal RNA acts as the peptidyl transferase enzyme.

Flashcard 2: Identify the role of the poly-A tail in mRNA.

Answer: Stability and regulation of translation. Protects mRNA from degradation and aids translation.

Flashcard 3: Identify the role of GTP in translation.

Answer: Provides energy for translation steps. GTP hydrolysis drives conformational changes in translation.

Flashcard 4: What is the function of the signal peptide?

Answer: Directs protein to specific location. Targets proteins to endoplasmic reticulum or organelles.

Flashcard 5: Identify the bond formed between amino acids.

Answer: Peptide bond. Covalent linkage connecting amino acids in proteins.

Flashcard 6: Identify the primary structure of a protein.

Answer: Sequence of amino acids. Linear order of amino acids in polypeptide chain.

Flashcard 7: Identify the sequence of translation steps.

Answer: Initiation, Elongation, Termination. The three phases of protein synthesis in order.

Flashcard 8: Find the correct sequence: mRNA: 5'-AUG-3'.

Answer: tRNA: 3'-UAC-5'. Anticodons are complementary and antiparallel to codons.

Flashcard 9: What is the function of the signal peptide?

Answer: Directs protein to specific location. Targets proteins to endoplasmic reticulum or organelles.

Flashcard 10: What is the function of a polysome?

Answer: Multiple ribosomes translating a single mRNA. Increases protein production efficiency from single mRNA.

Flashcard 11: Find the correct anticodon for mRNA codon 5'-UAA-3'.

Answer: No anticodon; it's a stop codon. Stop codons have no corresponding tRNA molecules.

Flashcard 12: What binds to the stop codon during termination?

Answer: Release factor. Proteins that recognize stop codons to end synthesis.

Flashcard 13: Identify the role of the Kozak sequence.

Answer: Enhances translation in eukaryotes. Optimizes start codon recognition in eukaryotic cells.

Flashcard 14: What is the role of rRNA in ribosomes?

Answer: Structural and catalytic functions. rRNA provides ribosomal structure and enzymatic activity.

Flashcard 15: Find the complementary mRNA for DNA: 3'-TAC-5'.

Answer: 5'-AUG-3'. Transcription produces mRNA complementary to template DNA.

Flashcard 16: Which molecule provides energy for translation?

Answer: GTP. Hydrolyzed to power translation machinery movements.

Flashcard 17: What is the function of the P site in the ribosome?

Answer: Holds tRNA carrying growing polypeptide chain. The peptidyl site containing the growing protein chain.

Flashcard 18: Which molecule is necessary for translation elongation?

Answer: Elongation factors. Required proteins for peptide chain extension.

Flashcard 19: What is the role of mRNA in translation?

Answer: Carries genetic code from DNA to ribosome. Template molecule that specifies protein sequence.

Flashcard 20: What is the function of the A site in the ribosome?

Answer: Holds tRNA carrying the next amino acid. The aminoacyl site where new tRNA enters during elongation.

Flashcard 21: What is the start codon in mRNA translation?

Answer: AUG. The universal start codon that signals translation initiation.

Flashcard 22: Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?

Answer: Ribosome. The cellular machinery where mRNA is translated into proteins.

Flashcard 23: Which region of tRNA pairs with mRNA codon?

Answer: Anticodon. Three-base sequence complementary to mRNA codons.

Flashcard 24: What is the role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase?

Answer: Attaches amino acids to tRNA. Ensures correct amino acid-tRNA pairing for translation.

Flashcard 25: What molecule carries amino acids to the ribosome?

Answer: tRNA. Transfer RNA molecules transport specific amino acids to ribosomes.

Flashcard 26: Identify the role of the poly-A tail in mRNA.

Answer: Stability and regulation of translation. Protects mRNA from degradation and aids translation.

Flashcard 27: Which molecule provides energy for translation?

Answer: GTP. Hydrolyzed to power translation machinery movements.

Flashcard 28: Which enzyme is responsible for charging tRNA?

Answer: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Attaches correct amino acids to their specific tRNAs.

Flashcard 29: What molecule carries genetic information?

Answer: mRNA. Messenger RNA templates specify protein sequences.

Flashcard 30: Identify the primary structure of a protein.

Answer: Sequence of amino acids. Linear order of amino acids in polypeptide chain.

Flashcard 31: Identify the role of the Kozak sequence.

Answer: Enhances translation in eukaryotes. Optimizes start codon recognition in eukaryotic cells.

Flashcard 32: What is the role of mRNA in translation?

Answer: Carries genetic code from DNA to ribosome. Template molecule that specifies protein sequence.

Flashcard 33: What is the function of the P site in the ribosome?

Answer: Holds tRNA carrying growing polypeptide chain. The peptidyl site containing the growing protein chain.

Flashcard 34: Choose the correct tRNA anticodon for mRNA codon 5'-GCU-3'.

Answer: 3'-CGA-5'. Anticodons read codons in complementary, antiparallel fashion.

Flashcard 35: Which enzyme catalyzes peptide bond formation?

Answer: Peptidyl transferase. rRNA enzyme that creates peptide bonds between amino acids.

Flashcard 36: Which region of tRNA pairs with mRNA codon?

Answer: Anticodon. Three-base sequence complementary to mRNA codons.

Flashcard 37: What is the purpose of the 5' cap in eukaryotic mRNA?

Answer: Protects mRNA and aids ribosome binding. Enhances mRNA stability and ribosome recognition.

Flashcard 38: Find the correct sequence: mRNA: 5'-AUG-3'.

Answer: tRNA: 3'-UAC-5'. Anticodons are complementary and antiparallel to codons.

Flashcard 39: Which enzyme catalyzes peptide bond formation?

Answer: Peptidyl transferase. rRNA enzyme that creates peptide bonds between amino acids.

Flashcard 40: Identify the purpose of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence.

Answer: Ribosome binding site in prokaryotic mRNA. Helps prokaryotic ribosomes locate translation start site.

Flashcard 41: What is the role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase?

Answer: Attaches amino acids to tRNA. Ensures correct amino acid-tRNA pairing for translation.

Flashcard 42: Which process involves ribosome scanning for AUG?

Answer: Translation initiation. Ribosome assembly and positioning at start codon.

Flashcard 43: What molecule carries genetic information?

Answer: mRNA. Messenger RNA templates specify protein sequences.

Flashcard 44: What is released when a stop codon is reached?

Answer: Release factor. Proteins that recognize stop codons and end translation.

Flashcard 45: What process follows translation in protein synthesis?

Answer: Protein folding and modification. Post-translational processing creates functional proteins.

Flashcard 46: Identify the role of GTP in translation.

Answer: Provides energy for translation steps. GTP hydrolysis drives conformational changes in translation.

Flashcard 47: Find the complementary mRNA for DNA: 3'-TAC-5'.

Answer: 5'-AUG-3'. Transcription produces mRNA complementary to template DNA.

Flashcard 48: What is the function of elongation factors?

Answer: Facilitate elongation of polypeptide chain. Proteins that help tRNA move through ribosomal sites.

Flashcard 49: What is the start codon in mRNA translation?

Answer: AUG. The universal start codon that signals translation initiation.

Flashcard 50: What is the final step of translation?

Answer: Termination. When stop codons trigger protein release from ribosome.

Flashcard 51: What is the role of rRNA in ribosomes?

Answer: Structural and catalytic functions. rRNA provides ribosomal structure and enzymatic activity.

Flashcard 52: What binds to the stop codon during termination?

Answer: Release factor. Proteins that recognize stop codons to end synthesis.

Flashcard 53: What is released when a stop codon is reached?

Answer: Release factor. Proteins that recognize stop codons and end translation.

Flashcard 54: Identify the purpose of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence.

Answer: Ribosome binding site in prokaryotic mRNA. Helps prokaryotic ribosomes locate translation start site.

Flashcard 55: What molecule carries amino acids to the ribosome?

Answer: tRNA. Transfer RNA molecules transport specific amino acids to ribosomes.

Flashcard 56: What is the purpose of the 5' cap in eukaryotic mRNA?

Answer: Protects mRNA and aids ribosome binding. Enhances mRNA stability and ribosome recognition.

Flashcard 57: Which enzyme is responsible for charging tRNA?

Answer: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Attaches correct amino acids to their specific tRNAs.

Flashcard 58: Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?

Answer: Ribosome. The cellular machinery where mRNA is translated into proteins.

Flashcard 59: What is the final step of translation?

Answer: Termination. When stop codons trigger protein release from ribosome.

Flashcard 60: Identify the sequence of translation steps.

Answer: Initiation, Elongation, Termination. The three phases of protein synthesis in order.

Flashcard 61: What type of RNA facilitates peptide bond formation?

Answer: rRNA. Ribosomal RNA acts as the peptidyl transferase enzyme.

Flashcard 62: What is the function of elongation factors?

Answer: Facilitate elongation of polypeptide chain. Proteins that help tRNA move through ribosomal sites.

Flashcard 63: Choose the correct tRNA anticodon for mRNA codon 5'-GCU-3'.

Answer: 3'-CGA-5'. Anticodons read codons in complementary, antiparallel fashion.

Flashcard 64: What does the E site in a ribosome do?

Answer: Exit site for discharged tRNA. Where empty tRNA molecules leave the ribosome.

Flashcard 65: Which process involves ribosome scanning for AUG?

Answer: Translation initiation. Ribosome assembly and positioning at start codon.

Flashcard 66: Which molecule initiates translation?

Answer: Initiator tRNA. Special tRNA carrying methionine that starts translation.

Flashcard 67: What is the function of a polysome?

Answer: Multiple ribosomes translating a single mRNA. Increases protein production efficiency from single mRNA.

Flashcard 68: Identify the bond formed between amino acids.

Answer: Peptide bond. Covalent linkage connecting amino acids in proteins.

Flashcard 69: Which molecule is necessary for translation elongation?

Answer: Elongation factors. Required proteins for peptide chain extension.

Flashcard 70: What does the E site in a ribosome do?

Answer: Exit site for discharged tRNA. Where empty tRNA molecules leave the ribosome.

Flashcard 71: What process follows translation in protein synthesis?

Answer: Protein folding and modification. Post-translational processing creates functional proteins.

Flashcard 72: What is the function of the A site in the ribosome?

Answer: Holds tRNA carrying the next amino acid. The aminoacyl site where new tRNA enters during elongation.

Flashcard 73: Find the correct anticodon for mRNA codon 5'-UAA-3'.

Answer: No anticodon; it's a stop codon. Stop codons have no corresponding tRNA molecules.

Flashcard 74: Which molecule initiates translation?

Answer: Initiator tRNA. Special tRNA carrying methionine that starts translation.