- After transcription, the mRNA molecule leaves the nucleus into the

cytosol and arrives at a ribosome.

- The blue small subunit and purple large subunit of the ribosome bind to
the yellow mRNA molecules to form the initial complex.
- The initiator tRNA molecule, carrying the methionine amino acid that will
serve as the first amino acid of the polypeptide chain, binds to the
ribosome.
- The tRNA that corresponds to the second codon then binds to the
ribosomal complex. The tRNA deposits its specific amino acid adding to
the growing chain of polypeptides.
- The way mRNA codes for a specific polypeptide molecule by using codons,
sets of 3 neucleotides that each account for 1 type of amino acid to be
used for the construction of the polypeptide chain
- tRNA, then encounters the ribosome as it floats through the cytosol. With
each tRNA molecule carrying 1 specific amino acid, whether or not this
amino acid is required for the construction of the polypeptide is
determined via the anticodon each tRNA has. If the anti codon on the
tRNA is a complimentary match for the codon on the mRNA chain then
the amino acid is required and used.
- There are millions of tRNA floating in the cytosol, all waiting to find the
codon that compliments their anti codon. Each of these tRNA may have
any of the 20 essential amino acids. And at any point, their amino acid
might be needed throughout the cell to produce any polypeptide.
- This process is repeated along the 5’ to 3’ direction until all codons in the
mRNA have been read by the tRNA molecules.
As each amino acid is attached, the polypeptide chain gets longer and begins
to form a protein. This protein will then go on to perform one of many
important functions in our bodies.