A eukaryotic mRNA has the following sequence. The 5' cap is indicated in italics (CAP), and the 3' poly(A) tail is indicated by italicized adenines.
5′-CAPCCAAGCGUUACAUGUAUGGAGAGAAUGAAACUGAGGCUUGCCACGUUUGUUAAGCACCUAUGCUACCGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-3′

Determine the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide produced from this mRNA. Write the sequence using the three-letter and one-letter abbreviations for amino acids.

Key Concepts

mRNA Structure

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. It consists of a 5' cap, which protects the mRNA from degradation and aids in ribosome binding, and a 3' poly(A) tail, which also enhances stability and translation efficiency. The sequence of nucleotides in mRNA is read in sets of three, known as codons, each corresponding to a specific amino acid.

Translation Process

Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using the information encoded in mRNA. During translation, ribosomes read the mRNA codons sequentially, and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome. The ribosome facilitates the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids, resulting in a polypeptide chain that eventually folds into a functional protein.

Amino Acid Codons

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and each amino acid is specified by a unique codon, a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA. The genetic code is universal, meaning that the same codons specify the same amino acids across different organisms. Understanding the codon table is essential for translating mRNA sequences into their corresponding amino acid sequences, using both three-letter and one-letter abbreviations.