Translatsjon

Translatsjon is a term sometimes encountered in Norwegian discussions of biology, though the standard Norwegian term for this process is translasjon. It refers to the cellular mechanism by which genetic information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) is used to synthesize proteins. In many textbooks and databases, the process is described as translation, and in Norwegian scientific usage it is commonly called translasjon.

During translasjon, ribosomes read the sequence of codons on an mRNA molecule and assemble a corresponding polypeptide chain from amino acids carried by transfer RNAs (tRNAs). The ribosome, mRNA, tRNAs, and various protein factors cooperate to ensure correct decoding of the genetic code, initiation at a start codon (typically AUG), elongation of the growing peptide, and termination at a stop codon.

Key components include the ribosome (comprising a small and a large subunit), mRNA, tRNAs with attached amino acids, and various initiation, elongation, and release factors. The process requires cellular energy, primarily in the form of GTP, to drive initiation and elongation steps. The genetic code is nearly universal, with its codons specifying specific amino acids, though some organisms exhibit certain codon reassignments.

Translasjon occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, in prokaryotes concurrent with transcription, and in eukaryotes within the cytosol and certain organelles. After synthesis, polypeptides may undergo folding and post-translational modifications that determine their final structure and function. Regulation of translasjon affects protein production rates in response to cellular conditions and environmental cues.